Healthy teeth are not only a beautiful smile, but also an important factor in a child's overall health. In Germany, basic dental care for children is covered by statutory health insurance (GKV), although the scope of these services is limited. Many parents face a situation where they have to choose between a standard procedure and a higher-quality alternative—often a paid one. In this article, we will explain in detail which services are included in basic insurance, where additional costs may arise, and how supplementary dental insurance helps to expand the range and quality of treatment without overpaying for every doctor's visit.
Everything about braces and orthodontics in Germany
General rules for paediatric dental cover
Early childhood caries has become a serious problem. Most dental diseases detected upon starting school are already formed in the first three years of life. Therefore, more preventive services are now offered to those who have statutory health insurance. Nevertheless, the GKV most often covers only basic medical care for children, and if you wish to use higher quality materials or complete treatment, an additional payment will be required.
Mandatory health insurance includes:
- Primary healthcare in the event that root canal treatment, periodontal treatment, and dental prosthetics are required up to the age of 18
- Polymer filling up to 15 years and cement filling from 15 to 18 years of age
- Fissure sealing on molars (permanent back teeth) up to 6 years old
- Fluoridation aged 6 to 34 months 2 to 4 times a year
- Biannual check-up from 6 to 18 years of age
- Standard metal braces for 3–5 IOTN up to 18 years of age
All additional requests – such as polymer fillings for teenagers, transparent or more aesthetic braces, and bite correction for grades 1-2 KIG – will need to be paid for separately.
Paediatric orthodontics and braces in Germany
Statutory health insurance (GKV) covers basic dental services, but orthodontic treatment may require additional costs. Most children have bite problems, and fixing them often takes several thousand euros and a few years. To determine whether state insurance will cover the treatment in your case, it is necessary to take into account the degree of dental misalignment, which is measured using Kieferindikationsgruppen (KIG), and indicates the severity of the diagnosis with levels from 1 to 5:
1 and 2 KIG - minor deviations, often purely cosmetic. Dental treatment costs must be covered by parents independently or through supplementary dental insurance for children.
CC from 3 to 5 — well-defined tooth displacements and other abnormalities affecting the child's health. These are serious defects that interfere with chewing, breathing or speaking. Costs for basic medical care, such as the fitting of braces, are covered by state health insurance. However, for faster, more aesthetic and painless treatment, there may be additional costs €2000 to €4000, which will need to be paid for independently.
Main types of braces and their features
Prices are indicative for 2024. The cost of treatment may vary significantly depending on the type of braces and the complexity of the case.
Traditional metal braces
Let's start with traditional metal braces. They are the most popular and the most affordable.
Price: The cost can range from 2,000 to 5,000 euros for the entire course of treatment.
Duration of treatment: usually between 1.5 and 3 years.
- Benefits
- High efficiency in resolving complex cases.
- Sturdy construction.
- Usually the most affordable option.
- Disadvantages
- A less aesthetic appearance.
- Potential for irritation to the gums and the inside of the cheeks.
State health insurance covers 80% of the cost, and you pay the remaining 20% yourself. If several children from the same family are undergoing treatment with an orthodontist at the same time, you will pay 10% for each child. This money will be refunded to you once treatment is complete.
Ceramic braces
The next type is ceramic braces, which are more aesthetically pleasing due to their colour.
Price: from €3,000 to €7,000 for the entire course of treatment.
Duration of treatment: сon a par with metal braces, but can sometimes take a little longer due to the delicacy of the material.
- Benefits
- Less noticeable on the teeth.
- More comfortable for the child.
- Disadvantages
- More brittle and may be prone to staining.
- More expensive than metal braces.
- State health insurance does not cover it.
State health insurance does not cover it.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are fitted to the inner side of the teeth, making them practically invisible.
Price: from €8,000 to €12,000 for the entire course of treatment.
Duration of treatment: оaround 1.5 — 3 years, similarly to other types of braces.
- Benefits
- Completely hidden from view.
- High efficiency.
- Disadvantages
- Higher cost.
- They may be less comfortable and more difficult to look after.
- State health insurance does not cover it.
Clear aligners (Invisalign)
Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are becoming increasingly popular.
Price: from €4,000 to €7,000 for the entire course of treatment.
Duration of treatment: оUsually from 1 to 2 years, but it can vary depending on the case.
- Benefits
- Practically invisible.
- Removable, which makes dental care easier.
- Fewer food restrictions.
- Disadvantages
- High cost.
- They demand discipline from the child to achieve the best result.
- State health insurance does not cover it.
An example from our orthodontist — standard medical insurance only covers metal braces on the right:
Supplementary dental insurance for children
With additional dental insurance for children, you pay a small monthly contribution (starting from €1.50) instead of several thousand euros all at once. The additional insurance covers higher quality and more aesthetically pleasing materials. In addition, it covers extra calming and anaesthetic agents (sedatives, general anaesthesia, laughing gas), which is particularly relevant for children who are afraid of dentists.
The advantages of supplemental dental insurance for children include:
- Individual prevention
- Children's teeth cleaning
- High-quality fillings
- Fissure sealant
- Lingual technique
- Fixed braces
- Orthodontic treatment
What to look out for when choosing supplementary dental insurance
- What is the % that insurance will cover for the fitting of braces? Orthodontic treatment and braces range from 60 to 100%
- Filling with high-quality material at least for all molar teeth
- Which types of braces does this apply to?
- Does children's teeth cleaning count
- Treatment of periodontosis
Our tariff recommendations for children
If a child needs an orthodontist
Tariffs with full cover and the best orthodontic treatment cover deals.
Plan: MeinZahnschutz 100
Tariff: Zahn EXKLUSIV pur
Tariff: ZAHN SORGLOS
Unrestricted KIG 1–5 100% within the limit and no more than 3,000 € for the whole contract
- 1 calendar year up to €1000
- from 1 to 2 calendar years up to €2,500
- from the 3rd calendar year up to €3000
No restrictions: KIG 1–5 100% within the limit.
- 1 calendar year to €250–1000
- from 1 to 2 calendar years up to €3000
- from the 1st to the 3rd calendar year up to €4,500
- from 1 to 4 calendar years up to €6,000
- from the 5th calendar year without restrictions
No restrictions: KIG 1–5 100% within the limit.
- 1 calendar year up to €1,500 (in the first year, calculated in proportion to the number of months covered)
- from 1 to 2 calendar years up to €3000
- from the 1st to the 3rd calendar year up to €4,500
- From the 4th calendar year up to €8,000
Periodontitis treatment
Periodontitis treatment
Periodontitis treatment
Minimum contract period
- 2 years
Minimum contract period
- 2 years
Minimum contract period
- 1 year
Price
Aged 0 to 16
€17.47 a month
Price
Aged 0 to 16
£22.89 a month
Price
0-20 years
£12.82 a month
Tariff: ZAHN SORGLOS
No restrictions: KIG 1–5 100% within the limit.
- 1 calendar year up to €1,500 (in the first year, calculated in proportion to the number of months covered)
- from 1 to 2 calendar years up to €3000
- from the 1st to the 3rd calendar year up to €4,500
- From the 4th calendar year up to €8,000
Fillings made of high-quality materials
Periodontitis treatment
Minimum contract period
- 1 year
Price
0-20 years
£12.82 a month
If the child only requires basic treatment and prevention
If your child does not have any serious dental health issues or a recommendation for orthodontic treatment, then plans with 100% cover for dental treatment – but with limited cover for prosthetics and orthodontics – would be a good choice. These plans are an excellent supplement to state health insurance.
Tariff: MeinZahnschutz 75
Tariff: Basis 80
Tariff: SmartDentJunior
The first year is 1000 €
Two years — 1500 €
Three years — 2000 €
From the fourth year — no limits
The first year is 1000 €
Two years — 2000 €
Three years — 3000 €
From the fourth year — no limits
The first year is 500 €
Two years — 1000 €
Three years — 1500 €
Four years — 2000 €
Five years — 2500 €
Since 2006 — no limits
- 100%
- 100% once a year
- twice a year, up to €80 each
- 75%
- 80%
Orthodontics
- Children: 75% up to €2,000
Orthodontics
- Children: 100% up to €2,000
Orthodontics
- Children: 100% up to €1,000
100%
100%
100%
- 2 years
100%
100%
100%
- 1 year
100%
100%
100%
- 2 years
Price
Aged 0 to 16
€8.43 a month
Price
0-20 years
€14.04 a month
Price
0-17 years old
€10.60 a month
Tariff: SmartDentJunior
Sum insured
The first year is 500 €
Two years — 1000 €
Three years — 1500 €
Four years — 2000 €
Five years — 2500 €
Since 2006 — no limits
Professional dental cleaning
- twice a year, up to €80 each
Prosthetics
Orthodontics
- Children: 100% up to €1,000
Fillings made of high-quality materials
100%
100%
Periodontitis treatment
100%
Minimum contract period
- 2 years
Price
0-17 years old
€10.60 a month
From what age and until what period should supplementary dental insurance for children be arranged?
If the dentist has already diagnosed your child with a malocclusion, it is usually already too late to take out supplementary dental insurance for children. Since the diagnosis will be documented in the patient's medical records, the claim for coverage will consequently be rejected. Supplementary dental insurance for children (and adults) generally excludes recommended and ongoing dental treatment, with a few exceptions.
It is best to take out supplementary dental insurance for children when their first milk teeth begin to erupt, which corresponds to the start of the „transition of the dentition“. At the latest, the insurance should be taken out before the age of 8. Many insurers also set an age limit for orthodontic treatment in the details of their tariff.
If you have any questions or need advice on choosing insurance and dental coverage, please contact us, we can help you choose:
- Let's hold free independent consultation
- We’ll save you time when choosing a tariff
- We will take care of everything in the event of an insurance claim
Supplementary dental insurance for children means saving money and ensuring your child has a healthy, beautiful smile.
You can compare more policies and find out more about supplementary dental insurance in our article
Video: paediatric dentistry in Germany
In this video, we will discuss paediatric dentistry and orthodontics in detail — how much braces and treatment cost in Germany.
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