The cost of braces
introduction
There is no difference when it comes to the cost of braces for children and adults. In some cases the costs are partially or even fully covered by the health insurance company, in others, nothing is reimbursed. The costs vary on the one hand due to the type of treatment, i.e. depending on which form of therapy is chosen with which type of braces. In addition, the costs rise or fall, depending on the severity of the jaw and tooth misalignment. Sometimes only one jaw or only a section of the jaw is treated. The total price of the treatment changes depending on how much pre- and post-treatment is necessary, or whether an additional operation has to take place.
The degree of severity of the malalignment is divided into the orthodontic indication groups.
Fixed braces costs
The cost of fixed braces varies depending on which braces you choose. There are different multi bracket appliances with different materials. In addition, there are additional aids such as straps, rubbers, a headgear, or an autumn hinge, which of course cause additional costs. If a patient needs such appliances, the misalignment of the teeth and jaw is usually so severe that the health insurance company pays the costs. For treatments that only affect one jaw, the costs are around 1000 to 2000 euros. If a complete treatment is carried out, the costs extend to over 5000 euros and more. In the case of children and adolescents under the age of 18, at least part of the insurance is covered in many cases so that the private part does not correspond to the above. The prices and costs borne by the health insurance only relate to the basic treatment. Any additional therapies or aesthetic treatments must be borne privately.
More about this at: The fixed braces
Costs for the different brackets
The different materials that brackets can be made of cost different amounts. They are also cheaper or more expensive to manufacture. The standard brackets are made of stainless steel, which cannot rust, and are silver in color. Nowadays there are other materials, such as gold, titanium, ceramic or composite. The last two are tooth colors and are therefore particularly aesthetic. However, the additional costs associated with purchasing or manufacturing the alternative brackets must be paid for privately. Composite brackets are the cheapest alternative, but the plastic discolors easily, so that after a while they no longer look as aesthetic. Prefabricated ceramic brackets are still a little more expensive than the titanium brackets, but keep their white color throughout the treatment time. Most of the costs arise in the production of the lingual brackets. These usually consist of an alloy with a gold content. Since these are individually made so that they fit exactly on the inside of the tooth, additional costs arise to compensate the dental technician's working time.
Read more on the topic: Brackets of a brace
Fixed braces for adults
From the age of 18, any kind of orthodontic treatment is considered a private service. Health insurance companies only cover the orthodontic treatment if the misalignment of the teeth and jaws has reached a certain severity. In addition, a surgical operation must be planned in combination with the orthodontic approach. The costs then vary again depending on the duration of the therapy, depending on which braces are chosen. Adults often only want a rough adjustment of the teeth in the dental arch. Smaller aesthetic defects must be corrected in the fine adjustment. This would take longer and also make a clear difference in terms of price. The costs can accordingly vary between 1,500 euros for a small correction or up to 15,000 euros for an all-round treatment in both jaws.
Read more on the topic: Braces for adults
Cost of loose braces
There are differences even with loose braces. There are many different braces that require more or less effort to manufacture. The price changes accordingly. Depending on which form of therapy is chosen, the health insurance company will cover part or even all of the treatment costs. The so-called allowance covers the cost of loose braces if there is medical justification and there is a need for treatment. However, only the costs for the basic treatment will be reimbursed. If modern tests or equipment are added, they have to be paid for privately. In most cases, loose braces are followed by therapy with a fixed multi-bracket appliance, so that the costs for the loose braces can be offset as pre-treatment.
Read more on the topic: The loose braces
Cost of braces installed inside
Braces using the lingual technique are very expensive compared to conventional multi-bracket appliances. Each individual bracket has to be modeled and cast exactly to match by the dental technician. Also, special wires are used nowadays to get a better result. Again, these wires are more expensive than the simple ones. After the treatment with the lingual braces you usually still need transparent plastic splints, as the fine adjustment of the teeth using fixed appliances is not precise enough. Each of these rails cost about 200-400 euros again. The total costs for lingual braces are around 8,000 to 16,000 euros due to the high laboratory costs.
Read more on the topic: Braces behind the teeth
Who bears the costs?
Adults over the age of 18 generally have to pay for the orthodontics themselves. There are of course exceptions in which the health insurance company pays part or even all of the bill. However, this must be a serious misalignment of teeth, if not jaw misalignment. In any case, medically justified cases supported by a surgical procedure are paid for. A purely aesthetic justification is not enough in adulthood.
Children and adolescents are divided into different degrees depending on the deformity. There are 5 grades. Grade 1 and 2 stand for slight misalignment. With these degrees, the health insurance company sees no need for orthodontic treatment. From grade 3, you have the right to, at least partially, reimbursement by the statutory health insurance. According to the health insurance company, there is only a need for treatment as soon as the overbite is more than 6 mm. The so-called "overbite" is the distance that occurs between the upper and lower jaw when the mouth is clenched. A lower jaw that protrudes too far is definitely paid for, as it is more difficult for these patients to bite off.
If the upper jaw incisors bite more than 3 mm in the most vertical dimension over the lower jaw front, there is a risk that the gums will be injured, which is why this treatment is also covered by the health insurance. If there is a lack of space of more than 3 mm after the mixed dentition phase, i.e. the phase in which the deciduous teeth are exchanged for the permanent ones, this must be resolved, as otherwise the new teeth cannot erupt on the spot. In some cases, braces are paid for in the deciduous teeth, depending on the graduation and whether there are any anomalies or diseases,
Are the costs for braces tax deductible?
There are some cases where patients have been able to remove at least part of their brace. However, there is no guarantee that the tax office will accept every invoice. It depends on how high the cost of the invoice is within a year and whether you can get over the tax-free limit. In addition, the job certainly plays a role. In some professions, a friendly smile and well-groomed appearance are more important than in others. Since orthodontic treatment is mostly a cosmetic or aesthetic problem and not a health problem, it also becomes difficult to submit the invoice on the pretext of an exceptional burden. Orthodontics bills are the same as bills for cosmetics, hairdressers or opticians. In such specific cases, it is advisable to consult a tax advisor.
