Orthodontics for children in Cologne – braces for children and teens

Detecting jaw misalignments early helps avoid later and more involved procedures. Professional associations recommend a first orthodontic check-up at around 6 to 7 years of age, in order to identify developmental problems such as crossbites or open bites12 early. A pronounced overbite3 can also often be guided particularly gently during growth. Not every finding has to be treated right away – sometimes it is enough at first to observe how growth develops.

You don’t have to wait for your dentist to bring it up: a check-up with us is possible without a referral, and it costs nothing if there are no findings.

Early treatment is the exception, not the rule. It makes sense when a finding interferes with growth or gets worse over time. Typical reasons:

• crossbite – the lower jaw is forced to one side when biting down
• protruding front teeth with a higher risk of injury during play and sports – for club sports, a custom sports mouthguard then provides protection
• reverse bite, in which the lower teeth sit in front of the upper ones
• loss of space after a baby tooth has been lost too early
• thumb sucking, pacifier habits or mouth breathing that shape the jaw

And just as important: when we wait and watch. Mild crowding in the mixed dentition, crooked permanent front teeth or gaps that close on their own as the teeth change do not need an early appliance. We tell you that openly – even if it means you will come back again in a year.

Working together with pediatricians, ENT specialists and speech therapists

Some findings do not have their cause in the jaw. With constant mouth breathing, nasal breathing should be checked; with tongue thrusting or an unusual swallowing pattern, speech therapy support helps; and with thumb sucking we work with a vestibular screen (an oral shield) instead of with prohibitions. Where it makes sense, we coordinate with the pediatric practice, the ENT practice or speech therapy.

The usual period for the actual treatment is the late mixed dentition. The reason is simple: as long as the jaw is growing, it can be guided. In girls this window is usually open until about age 12, in boys until about age 14. Treatment is still possible after that – but many things become more involved.

What we treat with depends on the findings, not on age: a removable appliance guides growth, while fixed braces position teeth precisely, and for teenagers aligners are often an alternative. At the end there is always retention – without it, the teeth drift back.

KIG classification: When does statutory health insurance pay for braces?

Statutory health insurance funds do not pay on request, but according to the findings. For this there are the orthodontic indication groups – KIG for short – with five levels:

• KIG 1 and 2 – minor deviations. Treatment is possible, but entirely a private-pay service.
• KIG 3 – pronounced misalignment. From this level on, statutory health insurance covers the standard treatment.
• KIG 4 and 5 – very pronounced or severe misalignments, such as a crossbite, an open bite or a markedly protruding upper jaw.

We make this classification at the initial examination and record it in the treatment plan, which the health insurer approves before treatment begins. So you know where you stand in advance.

You get the co-payment back

With treatment covered by statutory health insurance, you initially pay 20 percent of the costs yourself. The insurer refunds this share in fullonce the treatment has been completed as planned and we issue the certificate of completion. If a second child is being treated at the same time, the share drops to 10 percent – provided both children are under 18 when treatment begins and live in the same household as their parents or guardians.

Important for your timing: coverage by statutory health insurance applies only if treatment begins before the 18th birthday . If you would like to take out supplementary dental insurance, you should do so before any findings have been recorded – afterwards it is usually too late.

Privately insured families submit the treatment plan to their insurer before treatment begins; we put together the documents needed for this.

Nothing is done at the first visit. We look, we explain, and your child may touch anything they want to see.

1. Arriving and getting acquainted. We talk with your child, not just about them.
2. Taking a look. Teeth, bite and temporomandibular joint – no drill, no needle.
3. A digital 3D scan instead of an impression, if records are needed. No impression material, no gagging.
4. Talking it through. What we see, whether anything needs to be done and when – calmly and without time pressure.

If a removable appliance is needed later on, your child chooses the color. That may sound like a detail, but it is often the difference between an appliance that gets worn and one that stays in a drawer.

What to bring to the first appointment

• Your child’s health insurance card
• Dental bonus booklet, if you have one
• A referral from your dental practice, if you have one – it is not required
• Any existing X-rays or records from previous treatment

Wherever possible, we schedule check-up appointments for after school hours.

If the treatment need is sufficient, that is from classification KIG 3 on, statutory health insurance covers the cost of the standard treatment. The initial co-payment, usually 20%, is refunded once the treatment has been successfully completed. Additional, purely esthetic services such as tooth-colored brackets or special wires are private-pay – we discuss them with you transparently beforehand and are happy to advise you on supplementary dental insurance.

Our experienced team takes its time, explains every step in clear language and builds trust – for a relaxed atmosphere in which your child feels well looked after. Working closely with you and your family dentist, we guide your child step by step toward a healthy, stable bite.