Braces in Germany: Cost and What Insurance Covers

Q: Up to what age does the Kasse pay for braces?

What matters is your age at the start of treatment: if treatment begins before the 18th birthday, the Kasse keeps paying afterwards as well. For adults the Kasse covers orthodontics only for severe jaw anomalies under codes A5, B4, D4, K4, M4 or O5, where orthodontics is combined with jaw surgery.

Braces in Germany cost 1 500 to 8 000 € for a full course with metal brackets; ceramic and lingual braces and aligners cost more. The Krankenkasse (statutory health insurer, GKV) pays for a child’s treatment if the misalignment is graded KIG 3–5 and treatment starts before age 18: 80 % straight away, while you pay 20 % yourself and get it back once the treatment is completed as planned.

For KIG 1–2 the Kasse pays nothing, for adults only in cases of severe jaw anomalies, and you pay extra yourself for ceramic braces and aligners. Supplementary dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) covers these costs within the plan’s limits if you take it out before the orthodontist recommends treatment. Below: how the KIG grade is set, what AOK, TK, Barmer and DAK pay on top, what different braces cost and which plans cover orthodontics for children and adults best.

Video: Dentistry for children in Germany

Does standard health insurance in Germany cover braces?

As we mentioned above, standard insurance only covers severe cases and dental misalignments that have a negative impact on health. The degree of misalignment is measured using the KIG scale — the Kieferorthopädische Indikationsgruppe, or “orthodontic indication group”.

How KIG is assessed

The system has been in existence since 2002, consists of 5 levels and helps doctors determine whether treatment is covered by statutory health insurance or not.

Statutory health insurance only covers severity levels three to five. From the statutory insurers’ point of view, there is no urgent need for treatment at levels one and two, so patients have to bear the costs themselves.

KIG 1KIG 2

the Krankenkasse pays nothing — you carry the full cost

KIG 3KIG 4KIG 5

the Krankenkasse covers standard treatment if it starts before the age of 18

Level 1 - slight tooth displacement

From a dental perspective, slight tooth misalignment often does not require treatment. Statutory health insurance companies do not cover this.

Level 2 - minor tooth defects

Grade 2 refers to minor misalignments of the teeth; however, the condition is so obvious that aesthetic correction is required. Statutory health insurance does not cover the costs.

Level 3 - severe tooth displacement

At grade 3, tooth misalignment is already so severe that treatment is medically necessary. The Kasse covers standard treatment on the same terms as at grades 4 and 5.

Level 4 - severe deformation

At this grade, the dental arch irregularities are so serious that the statutory health insurers confirm the need for urgent treatment.

Level 5 - extremely pronounced deviations

At level 5, the Krankenkassen confirm that treatment is absolutely necessary on medical grounds and cover the cost of standard care.

What braces are provided under standard health insurance

Apart from the restrictions based on the KIG severity grade, statutory health insurance only covers standard, low-cost materials.

What Krankenkassen pay on top of the standard: AOK, TK, Barmer, DAK

The scope of orthodontic treatment covered by statutory health insurance is set by law (§ 29 SGB V) and is identical for everyone: KIG grade 3 to 5 and treatment started before the age of 18. A Kasse cannot extend it at its own discretion: entitlement exists only where the position of the teeth or jaws significantly impairs chewing, biting, speech or breathing. That is why the “Kasse that pays at KIG 1–2” is a myth: among the official pages of AOK, TK, Barmer, DAK and one BKK checked as a control, there is not a single one.

Krankenkassen differ only in small voluntary extras. Based on the Kassen’s official pages as of August 2026:

Krankenkasse	What it gives beyond the standard
TK	A one-off payment of up to €50 for smooth-surface sealing before the braces are fitted (from 01.01.2026) and a one-off payment of up to €100 for a fixed retainer. Retainer repairs are not covered.
DAK-Gesundheit	Up to €200 for a fixed front-teeth retainer, but no more than the actual cost. Treatment must start before the age of 18, and both the treatment and the fitting must be done by a DAK contract orthodontist.
Barmer	A free telemedicine second opinion (Barmer Teledoktor) if treatment has already been prescribed, plus a one-off payment of up to €50 for tooth sealing.
AOK	No separate orthodontic extras are listed on its official page — the standard scope under § 29 SGB V applies.

What none of them do: pay at KIG 1 and 2, contribute to the cost of ceramic, tooth-coloured or lingual brackets, or fund aligners. TK puts it plainly: aligner treatment may not be billed to statutory health insurance at all.

If the treatment is for a child, also read our article on children’s dental insurance. Krankenkassen revise the amounts and conditions of these extras regularly, so have them confirmed in writing before treatment begins. And above all: a difference of €100–200 between Kassen is small compared with the real out-of-pocket share for the whole course — we show the likely amounts below.

How much braces cost in Germany: 2026 prices and your own share

There is no single price list for orthodontics in Germany. The price depends on the region, the complexity of the case and the factor (1.0 to 3.5) under the GOZ (German dental fee scale) that the practice applies to the base rate. Market ranges for a full course of treatment in 2025–2026:

Type	Full course	Does the Kasse pay?
Metal braces	1 500–8 000 €	Yes, at KIG 3–5 for children under 18
Ceramic, tooth-coloured	2 500–9 500 €	No, Mehrleistung (extra-cost service) billed under GOZ
Lingual (inside)	3 500–15 000 €	No
Aligners, Invisalign	1 500–8 500 €	No, never covered by statutory insurance
Retainer after treatment	100–500 €	No; TK up to €100, DAK up to €200

How the 20% own share works. If treatment runs through the Kasse, you do not pay the full amount. The orthodontist bills 80% directly to the Kasse, and you pay the remaining 20% in advance — in instalments at each treatment step according to the plan. The Kasse refunds this 20% in full, but only after the treatment has been completed in line with the original treatment plan, not as you go along. Conservative-surgical and X-ray services provided within orthodontic treatment are exempt from the own share entirely.

Second child — 10% instead of 20%. If at least two insured children who are under 18 at the start of treatment live in the same household with their legal guardians and are treated simultaneously, the share for the second and each further child is halved. What matters is that the treatments overlap in time, not simply the number of children.

A benchmark figure. Neither the KZBV nor the Verbraucherzentrale nor the Krankenkassen themselves publish official statistics on the “average own share in euros”. Taking the typical cost of a standard case with metal braces (€2,000–6,000), 20% works out at roughly €400–1,200 for the whole course, and €200–600 for a second child. This is our own arithmetic estimate, not official data: treat it as an order of magnitude, not as a promise of a specific amount.

For adults, the Kasse normally does not pay for orthodontic treatment at all. The only exception is severe jaw anomalies under codes A5, B4, D4, K4, M4 or O5, where orthodontics is combined with jaw surgery. In all other cases the patient pays, and the final amount is usually higher for adults than for teenagers — because of the higher GOZ factor and the greater complexity of the cases.

How long it takes. Active treatment with fixed braces takes 1.5 to 4 years, with 2 to 3 years as the usual benchmark. The Kasse covers early treatment (Frühbehandlung) for a maximum of 6 quarters and the main treatment (Hauptbehandlung) for a maximum of 16 quarters.

And the key point about supplementary cover: dental supplementary insurance does not cover treatment that has already been started, diagnosed or recommended by a dentist before the contract was signed. It makes sense to take out cover before the first appointment with an orthodontist. If the treatment plan is already in hand, a new policy is very unlikely to apply to that particular case — the other dental benefits of the policy still work as normal. What such policies actually cover is set out on the page about supplementary dental insurance, and the cost of crowns and other prosthetic work on the page about dental prosthetics.

Kasse 80 %

you 20 %

The orthodontist bills 80 % directly to the Kasse. Your 20 % is paid in advance in treatment stages and is refunded in full, if the treatment is completed according to the approved plan. For a second child treated at the same time the share is 10 % instead of 20 %.

An example from our orthodontist — standard medical insurance only covers metal braces on the right:

Supplementary dental insurance offering the most comprehensive cover for orthodontic treatment

If you’re thinking about getting braces for yourself or your children in Germany to correct your bite, we’ve put together the best insurance plans on the market for orthodontic cover, tailored to your specific situation.

If the treatment is covered by the Kasse, it pays 80 % straight away; you pay 20 % yourself and get it back once the treatment is completed as planned. Supplementary insurance pays what the Kasse does not cover, based on the orthodontist’s invoices, so keep all your invoices.

We provide recommendations based on a comparison of the orthodontic cover offered by each insurance plan and our experience of dealing with the insurers when a claim arises.

For adults

Including orthodontic treatment significantly narrows down the choice of insurance companies, as most companies do not cover orthodontic treatment for adults. Most plans set the limit for the whole contract: Münchener Verein up to 2 500 €, die Bayerische up to 2 000 €. The most generous is Concordia ZAHN SORGLOS: 100 %, up to 8 000 € per treatment, including aligners and ceramics, within the limits of the first three years.

Tariff: ZahnGesund 100

Orthodontics

Prosthetic coverage amount

1 year1500 €

Years 1–23000 €

Years 1–34500 €

Years 1–46000 €

From year 5no limit

Crowns, bridges, implants

Veneers

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

Tariff: Zahn Prestige

Orthodontics

Prosthetic coverage amount

1 year1500 €

Years 1–23000 €

Years 1–34500 €

Years 1–46000 €

From year 5no limit

Crowns, bridges, implants

Veneers

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

Orthodontics

Tariff: ZAHN SORGLOS

Prosthetic coverage amount

1 year1500 €

Years 1–23000 €

Years 1–34500 €

From year 4no limit

Crowns, bridges, implants

Veneers

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

When filling in the form, be sure to click “Antrag stellen” – otherwise we cannot support you during the contract.

To take out this policy, you must have lived in Germany for at least 3 years.

Orthodontics

Tariff: ZAHN SORGLOS

Prosthetic coverage amount

1 year1500 €

Years 1–23000 €

Years 1–34500 €

From year 4no limit

Crowns, bridges, implants

Veneers

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

When filling in the form, be sure to click “Antrag stellen” – otherwise we cannot support you during the contract.

To take out this policy, you must have lived in Germany for at least 3 years.

For children

Children usually undergo orthodontic treatment between the ages of 12 and 16, rarely starting at 6 to 8 years old. The active phase, using braces, lasts about two years. Then comes the retention phase, which prolongs teeth stability and prevents them from shifting. The total treatment time lasts about three to four years.

Tariff: MeinZahnschutz 100

Orthodontics

KIG 1–5, 100 % within the limit, up to 3000 € per treatment if it starts before age 21

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

Tariff: Zahn EXKLUSIV pur

Orthodontics

KIG 1–5, 100 % within the limit if treatment starts before age 21

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

Tariff: ZAHN SORGLOS

Orthodontics

KIG 1–2: 100 %, up to 8000 € per treatment · KIG 3–5: 100 % after the Kasse’s share, no upper limit

The family’s statutory share of 10–20 % (§ 29 SGB V) is not covered by the plan: the Krankenkasse refunds it once the treatment has been completed successfully, and if the treatment is stopped, nobody refunds it.

Fillings made of high-quality materials

Root canal treatment

Periodontitis treatment

Minimum contract term

When filling in the form, be sure to click “Antrag stellen” – otherwise we cannot support you during the contract.

To take out this policy, you must have lived in Germany for at least 3 years.

Frequently asked questions about braces in Germany

How much do braces cost in Germany?

A full course with metal braces costs €1,500–8,000, ceramic €2,500–9,500, lingual €3,500–15,000, aligners €1,500–8,500. The range is wide because the price depends on the region, the complexity of the case and the GOZ factor the practice applies. If treatment runs through the Kasse you do not pay the full amount but 20% in advance — roughly €400–1,200 for the whole course.

Does statutory health insurance pay for braces?

Yes, but only at KIG grade 3, 4 or 5 and if treatment starts before the age of 18. At KIG 1 and 2 the Kasse pays nothing at all — the law requires that the misalignment significantly impairs chewing, biting, speech or breathing. The standard option with metal braces is covered; ceramic, lingual braces and aligners remain at your own expense.

Does AOK pay for braces?

AOK pays under exactly the same law as every other Kasse: KIG 3–5, before the age of 18, standard option. AOK has no special conditions — its official braces page lists no separate orthodontic extras. For comparison: TK pays a one-off amount of up to €50 for sealing and up to €100 for a retainer, DAK up to €200 for a retainer, and Barmer offers a free second opinion and up to €50 for sealing.

Up to what age does the Kasse pay for braces?

What matters is your age at the start of treatment: if treatment begins before the 18th birthday, the Kasse keeps paying afterwards as well. For adults the Kasse covers orthodontics only for severe jaw anomalies under codes A5, B4, D4, K4, M4 or O5, where orthodontics is combined with jaw surgery.

Will I get the 20% own share back?

Yes, but only once the treatment has been completed in line with the original treatment plan — not as you go and not in instalments. If at least two insured children under 18 from the same household are treated at the same time, the share for the second and each further child drops to 10%.

Does supplementary dental insurance help if braces have already been prescribed?

As a rule, no. Supplementary dental insurance does not cover treatment that was already started, diagnosed or recommended by a dentist before the contract was signed. It makes sense to take out cover before the first appointment with an orthodontist. If the treatment plan already exists, a new policy is very unlikely to cover that particular case — the other dental benefits still work as normal. More on the page about supplementary dental insurance.

What are braces called in German?

Fixed braces are called feste Zahnspange or Brackets, a removable plate is a lose (herausnehmbare) Zahnspange, and clear aligners are Aligner. An orthodontist is a Kieferorthopäde, and the treatment plan approved by the Kasse is the Behandlungsplan.

Which dental insurance pays for braces for adults?

Only a few: most plans do not cover orthodontics for adults, and where they do, the limit is usually 2 000–2 500 € for the whole contract. Concordia ZAHN SORGLOS pays 100 %, up to 8 000 € per treatment, including aligners and ceramic braces, with limits in the first three years. Treatment recommended before the contract was signed is not covered.