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Braces for Teenagers
Once all the permanent teeth are in – usually at around 11 to 13 years of age – the classic time for fixed braces begins. For teenagers with severe misalignments, they are free of charge under the free braces scheme. Here parents and teenagers can find out what to expect: from the fitting of the brackets to care and sport through to the retainer.
Braces for teenagers – the essentials in brief
- Fixed braces: Brackets are bonded to the teeth and connected by an archwire. With free braces you get high-quality silver metal brackets.
- Treatment starts before the 18th birthday: The braces must be fitted before the 18th birthday – the earlier, the better growth can be used to advantage.
- Duration: 1.5 to 3 years is usual. With modern, gentle techniques, treatment at the institutes listed here takes around 19 months on average.
- Check-ups: a short appointment every 6 to 10 weeks. Long opening hours make it school-friendly.
- Retainer included: After active treatment, a retainer keeps the result stable – the first one is part of free braces.
Once a child has all their permanent teeth at around 12 years of age, fine adjustments, corrections and rotations of minor misalignments can be carried out to achieve the best possible final result. To correct misalignments of the permanent teeth, fixed braces are usually used, bringing the upper and lower jaw into shape.
It is relatively common for children to go through both treatment methods: removable braces first serve to correct the jaw misalignment, and fixed braces afterwards to correct the misalignment of the teeth.
Orthodontic treatment in children and teenagers is particularly demanding because they are still growing – at the same time, precisely this growth can be used to achieve a particularly good result. With the latest orthodontic technologies and methods, it is possible to give children and teenagers a healthy, beautiful smile. When choosing your orthodontic practice, therefore, check whether children and teenagers are a focus of its treatment.
Three steps to a healthy smile with free braces
For your child, the path to a healthy, beautiful smile takes just three simple steps:
- Consultation Everything starts with a free consultation. This determines whether the requirements for free braces are met.
- Records The misalignment of the teeth or jaw is analysed in detail using state-of-the-art diagnostic methods such as a digital scan, photos and cephalometric and panoramic X-rays. The result is a comprehensive treatment plan that sets out exactly how the misalignment will be treated.
- Orthodontic treatment You receive an appointment at which the free orthodontic treatment begins. For teenagers with permanent teeth, treatment under the free braces scheme is carried out with fixed braces.
Fixed braces: what teenagers want to know
Does fitting the brackets hurt?
No. The brackets are bonded painlessly to the teeth – there is no drilling. In the first two to three days after fitting or after a wire change, many people feel some pressure when biting – soft food and, if necessary, a painkiller help. Modern treatment techniques with gentle forces and thin wires make treatment much more comfortable today than in the past: in patient surveys, over 90 % say they find the treatment comfortable most or all of the time.
What can I eat with fixed braces?
Almost anything – only very hard and very sticky things are off-limits because they can loosen brackets: cut whole apples and carrots into pieces, don't crack nuts with your teeth, and avoid chewing gum, toffee or hard sweets. Cut down on sugary drinks where possible, as plaque builds up particularly easily around the brackets.
How do I brush my teeth properly with braces?
Brush your teeth after every meal – ideally with a soft toothbrush or an electric toothbrush, plus interdental brushes for the spaces around the brackets, and use a fluoride mouthwash once a day. Thorough care prevents white decalcification marks and tooth decay and ensures that only beautiful, healthy teeth are revealed when the braces come off.
Can I play sport or a musical instrument with braces?
Yes. For contact and ball sports, a mouthguard for brace wearers is recommended. Wind instruments are no problem either with a little practice. You can also get wax from the practice for brackets that rub against the lip at first.
How long do I have to wear fixed braces?
That depends on the misalignment. 1.5 to 3 years is usual; at the institutes listed here, treatment with free braces takes around 19 months on average. Keeping your appointments, wearing elastics as agreed and looking after your braces shortens the treatment time.
What happens after the braces come off?
After active treatment, the teeth must be stabilised in their new position – otherwise they drift back. That is what a retainer is for: usually a thin wire behind the front teeth and/or a clear retainer worn at night. The first retainer is included in free braces.
Are free braces also available with invisible brackets or aligners?
No. The health insurance fund covers treatment with silver metal brackets. Tooth-coloured ceramic brackets, lingual braces fitted on the inside of the teeth or clear aligners are private services. Many teenagers deliberately choose metal braces – with coloured elastics they can even be personalised.
My child will soon be 18 – is it too late?
Not as long as the braces are fitted before the 18th birthday. Only a few weeks usually pass between the initial consultation, the records and the start of treatment – so don't wait too long to book the free consultation.
Certified contract partners for free braces
When choosing your orthodontic practice, check whether it is one of the few contract institutes for free braces in Vienna. On this page you will find providers. If so, it means that free braces are genuinely free of charge for you. That is not a matter of course: even if a non-contract dentist (Wahlzahnarzt) meets the criteria (for example regarding proof of training in orthodontics), the health insurance fund still only reimburses 80 per cent of the contractually agreed rate. How much you then pay ultimately depends on how much the non-contract dentist charges for their services. As this amount is often well above the agreed rate, it can come to several thousand euros. This is not the case at the institutes listed on this page. If your child meets the requirements for free braces, “free” really does mean free of charge for you.
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