Frequently Asked Questions & Useful Facts about Free Braces

Are free braces really free?

Yes – if you choose a contract orthodontist certified for free braces. On this page you will find the providers in Vienna. Certified means that free braces are genuinely free for you: the consultation, diagnostics, the braces, all check-up appointments and the first retainer are billed directly to the health insurance fund. That is not a matter of course: even if a non-contract dentist (Wahlzahnarzt) meets the professional criteria, the health insurance fund still only reimburses 80 per cent of the contractually agreed rate. How much you then pay depends on how much the non-contract dentist charges for their services – as this amount is often well above the health insurance rate, it can be several thousand euros.

Since when have free braces been available in Austria?

Since 1 July 2015. The basis is a resolution of the National Council (the Austrian parliament) of March 2014 (Section 153a ASVG and parallel provisions), which made orthodontic care for children and teenagers with severe misalignments a free health insurance benefit. Since 2020, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) has been the largest insurer, and the rules apply throughout Austria.

What is included in free braces?

All necessary diagnostic and treatment measures at the contract orthodontist: consultation, records (models or digital scan, photos, X-rays), for younger children the interceptive treatment with removable braces, for teenagers the main treatment with fixed braces (metal brackets, bands, archwires, elastics), all check-up appointments and the first-time fabrication of retainers at the end of treatment.

What is not included?

Purely aesthetic extras: tooth-coloured ceramic brackets, lingual braces fitted on the inside of the teeth or clear aligners (such as Invisalign). These are available as private services. A replacement retainer (e.g. if the first one is lost) is also not part of the health insurance benefit.

Are free braces available throughout Austria?

Yes, free braces are a nationwide health insurance benefit. Treatment can be carried out by any contract orthodontist in Austria – regardless of where you live. The Viennese contract institutes Zahnregulierung Eltz and Zahnregulierung Votiv treat children from all over Austria.

What are the requirements for free braces?

• The treating dentist is a contract partner for orthodontics (contract orthodontist).
• The patient is under 18 years old when the braces are fitted.
• The teeth show a severe misalignment (IOTN 4 or 5).
• No cosmetic braces (e.g. with white brackets) or aligners such as Invisalign are used.

All the details: Requirements for free braces.

Are free braces available for all misalignments?

No. Braces are only free for children and teenagers if their teeth show a minimum deviation from the ideal alignment. The misalignment of the jaw and teeth must have a severity of IOTN grade 4 or 5.

As a layperson, what should I imagine by a misalignment of IOTN 4 or 5?

These are severe misalignments of the teeth or jaw – for example strongly protruding upper front teeth (overjet of more than 6 mm), a pronounced crossbite with displacement of the lower jaw, teeth that cannot come through due to lack of space, a severe open bite or several congenitally missing teeth. You will find a simplified overview on the Requirements page.

Can I determine myself whether my child meets the requirements for free braces?

No, the need for treatment according to the international IOTN classification can only be determined by a qualified contract orthodontist. It is part of the free consultation and only takes a few minutes.

Can I get free braces from any dentist?

No, free braces are only offered by contract orthodontists. Only contract orthodontists may carry out the IOTN assessment without prior approval and bill the health insurance fund directly.

What happens if my child turns 18 during treatment?

Nothing – what matters is that the braces were fitted before the 18th birthday. The treatment is then completed free of charge as normal.

Do I need a referral or approval?

No. For free braces with a contract orthodontist you need neither a referral nor prior approval from the health insurance fund. Your child's e-card (Austrian health insurance card) is all that is needed.

Who should I contact for a consultation?

You should contact a dentist who specialises in orthodontic treatment. These are also known as orthodontists. In addition to their dental degree, orthodontists have completed several years of additional training in order to correct misalignments of the teeth and jaw. They usually focus exclusively on orthodontic treatment and do not offer classic dental services such as fillings or crowns. On this page you will find providers.

In addition, the orthodontist should be a provider of free braces, for two reasons: (1) Otherwise you may have to pay for the consultation. (2) Only contract orthodontists can assess without prior approval whether your child meets the requirements.

When should I come for a consultation?

We recommend that parents of children aged 5 to 6 and up arrange a consultation for orthodontic treatment with an orthodontist. If nothing needs to be done yet, a check-up after one year is usually recommended – that way the ideal time for treatment is certainly not missed.

How do I book an appointment for free braces?

The quickest way is online: via online appointment booking you can choose a free slot for the free initial consultation directly at Zahnregulierung Eltz or Zahnregulierung Votiv. Alternatively by phone: Eltz 01 3583 100, Votiv 01 407 7029.

How long are the waiting times?

Currently short: at the two Viennese contract institutes, initial consultation appointments are available at short notice – online you can see the available slots immediately.

What do I need to bring to the consultation?

Your child's e-card. If available, recent X-rays or records from previous orthodontic treatment are helpful, but not necessary. Your child should be present at the first appointment so that the examination can be carried out.

What happens at the consultation?

The orthodontist examines your child's teeth, jaw and bite and discusses with you whether and when treatment is advisable and whether the requirements for free braces are met. If so, the records are taken at the next appointment (digital 3D scan, photos, X-rays), a treatment plan is drawn up and the appointment for fitting the braces is arranged.

How long does treatment with free braces take?

Early treatment with removable braces usually takes 12 to 18 months. The main treatment with fixed braces takes two to three years with most methods; with modern, gentle techniques it takes around 19 months on average at the institutes listed here. This is followed by stabilisation with a retainer.

How often are check-up appointments needed?

Usually every 6 to 10 weeks. The appointments are short – with special techniques (gentle wires, special bonding techniques), considerably longer intervals are possible. Long opening hours until 6:00 pm or 6:30 pm make it easier to fit appointments around school and work.

Do braces hurt?

Done properly, free braces are a low-pain treatment. Thanks to gentle forces and thinner steel wires, a brief feeling of pressure after fitting or after a wire change is usually all that children feel today. In patient surveys, over 90 % say they find the treatment comfortable most or all of the time.

Are impressions with that unpleasant impression material still taken?

Not in modern institutes: instead of metal trays and alginate material, a digital 3D scan of the teeth is taken. This is quicker, more precise and much more comfortable, especially for children – no gagging, no panic.

What is a retainer and is it included in free braces?

A retainer holds the teeth in their new position after active treatment – usually a thin, invisible wire behind the front teeth and/or a clear retainer worn at night. The first-time fabrication and fitting of retainers at the end of treatment is part of free braces.

What if my child does not meet the requirements for free braces?

There are several reasons to be pleased in this case. Firstly, it means that your child does not have a severe misalignment of the teeth and jaw. That in itself is good news. Secondly, in these cases you can also opt for clear aligners such as Invisalign instead of silver brackets. This is recommended, for example, where there is an increased risk of tooth decay. And thirdly, the health insurance fund also pays a subsidy for milder misalignments, subject to approval.

Does my child need orthodontic treatment if the misalignment is not severe?

This has to be assessed at the consultation. In general, there are good reasons to treat even mild to moderate misalignments in children and teenagers:

• Health reasons: Orthodontic treatment can spare your child damage caused by grinding, tooth decay, damage to the jaw joint, etc.
• Aesthetic reasons: A healthy smile is always a beautiful smile, too. This often goes hand in hand with greater well-being and self-confidence.
• Financial reasons: In many cases, orthodontic treatment saves you money in the long run. Unfortunately, it often turns out that the follow-up costs of an untreated misalignment of the teeth and jaw are many times what orthodontic treatment costs. Teeth grinding alone can destroy so much valuable tooth substance that the restoration costs well over €10,000.

How much does orthodontic treatment cost if free braces are not an option?

The cost depends on the complexity of the case and the method used. As a guide, the fee guidelines of the Austrian Dental Chamber put the average at around €7,800 for a complete treatment for adults; for children and teenagers with milder misalignments, the cost is often considerably lower. You will receive a specific cost plan after the consultation.

Many patients appreciate the option of interest-free instalment payments, as offered by the institutes listed here. Only the material costs are paid upfront; you can choose the number of instalments freely (up to 6 months beyond the planned treatment duration). The monthly instalment is usually between €100 and €200. This makes a healthy, beautiful smile affordable for children.

How to make braces cost even less

• Subsidy from the health insurance fund: Even without entitlement to free braces, the health insurance fund contributes to orthodontic treatment subject to approval – currently €821.80 per year of treatment with the ÖGK (2026 rate) for removable or fixed braces. For this, the treatment plan must be submitted before treatment begins; the institute will help you with this. Private insurers may pay additional subsidies.
• Tax: In your annual tax return (employee tax assessment / Arbeitnehmerveranlagung), all payments made in the previous year can be claimed as “extraordinary expenses”. The saving varies depending on income and family situation – on an average income it is often several hundred euros.
• Discount for upfront payment: If you pay for the treatment in a single amount before treatment begins, the institutes listed here grant a discount of 5 per cent – with example treatment costs of €4,980, paying upfront saves €249.

My child does not meet the criteria – what can I do?

If your child has a mild misalignment or is already over 18, you can book regular treatment with fixed brackets or clear aligners at Zahnregulierung Eltz or Zahnregulierung Votiv. Teenagers aged 15 and over with a mild misalignment can alternatively book an appointment with SayCheeese – the invisible braces from Vienna.

Are free braces also available for adults?

No. Free braces only apply if treatment begins before the 18th birthday. There is no health insurance benefit for adults, but there are good financing options – more on the Braces for Adults page.

Why should misaligned teeth be corrected?

Misaligned teeth do not only have aesthetic effects – if left untreated, they can hinder or disrupt the child's further development. The effects of misaligned teeth are varied: they range from an increased risk of injury during sport and play to permanent and painful jaw problems and chronic inflammation in the mouth. Orthodontic treatment therefore not only ensures optimal dental health but can also subsequently resolve speech disorders, relax the jaw joint and neck muscles and even prevent possible faulty development of the spine.

At what age is the ideal starting point for braces?

Starting orthodontic treatment – in other words, braces – in good time can spare your child later consequences such as surgery or severe misalignments and the associated health problems later in life.

But when is the right age for braces? In principle, you can never start too early. “It's best to come to us as early as possible,” says Dr. Maija Eltz, who founded the Eltz Institute for orthodontic treatment and specialises exclusively in treating misalignments of the teeth and jaw, inviting parents to an initial consultation. “An orthodontist usually needs just one thorough look to determine whether braces are necessary at all, now or in the future. If treatment is not immediately necessary, a further check-up a year later is recommended. So a visit is always worthwhile,” says DDr. Bärbl Reistenhofer of Zahnregulierung Votiv.

The treatment itself is carried out according to the child's age. For children with milk teeth and early mixed dentition, i.e. around six to eight years old, the so-called “phase 1” treatment applies. In this “interceptive therapy”, the child's development is influenced in order to improve it. Usually either removable braces (night-time braces) or acrylic appliances that are cemented in place for a short time are used, for example in the case of reverse overbites or lateral crossbites.

Once the child has all their permanent teeth at around 12 years of age, “phase 2” begins, during which fine adjustments, corrections and rotations of minor misalignments are carried out to achieve the best possible final result. Phase 2 treatment is usually carried out with fixed braces.

Can a “normal” dentist carry out the treatment?

Free braces are only available from selected orthodontists – and that makes perfect sense: “Orthodontists are dentists who, in the course of three to four years of additional university or para-university training, acquire specialist theoretical and practical knowledge on the development of the dentition, tooth alignment and jaw joint function,” says Dr. Eltz, herself a certified member of the Austrian Board of Orthodontists.

Who gets free braces – phase 1 and phase 2?

Phase 1 (early treatment) is covered in full by the health insurance fund as interceptive treatment in the case of severe misalignments; for milder misalignments there is a subsidy. The changes introduced by the free braces regulation in 2015 mainly concern phase 2, the main treatment with fixed braces. The requirements for eligibility are:

• The child must be under 18 years old at the start of treatment.
• The costs are only covered for severe misalignments (IOTN 4 and 5).

The complexity is determined according to the IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need). This is a task that can only be performed by a qualified orthodontist with a health insurance contract. Only for IOTN 4 and 5 are the braces covered by the health insurance fund.

In this context, DDr. Reistenhofer also points out that the health insurance funds only cover the costs of visible, silver-coloured brackets. If “invisible” – i.e. tooth-coloured or transparent – braces are to be used, all treatment costs must be borne by the patient or their legal guardians, as with private treatment.

What is the difference between removable and fixed braces?

Removable braces (an acrylic plate with wire elements) are used mainly for children with mixed dentition to guide jaw growth – they are worn in the afternoon and at night. Fixed braces (brackets and archwire) move individual teeth precisely and are used once the permanent teeth are in. More on this: Braces for Children and Braces for Teenagers.

Can the treatment be discussed in another language?

This information website is available in seven languages (German, English, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Turkish, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian) – select the flag for your language at the top of the page. There you will also find the explanatory video about free braces in your language. Consultations at the institutes are held in German; if you need support in another language, feel free to bring someone to accompany you or ask when booking your appointment.