Free braces in Vienna — nothing to pay
The Eltz Institut is a certified orthodontic practice for free braces (Gratis Zahnspange). If your child has severely misaligned teeth, health insurance covers the treatment in full — no co-payment, no excess. We’ll tell you at the free consultation whether your child is eligible.
What are free braces?
Free braces (Gratis Zahnspange) are a benefit provided by the Austrian public health insurance funds for children and teens with severely misaligned teeth. The orthodontic treatment is covered in full by the insurance fund — free of charge, with no co-payment or treatment contribution.
Treatment is carried out with fixed braces. For younger children, whose jaw growth can still be guided, removable braces are used.
- Treatment starts before the 18th birthday
- Severe malocclusion: IOTN grade 4 or 5
- No co-payment, no excess, no treatment contribution
- No approval from the health insurance fund needed — we determine eligibility
- All check-ups and aftercare are included
Who gets free braces?
For health insurance to cover the treatment, three conditions must be met. We determine the decisive one — the IOTN grade — at the free consultation.
Under 18
Treatment must begin before the 18th birthday. The earlier we spot a malocclusion, the more options there are.
IOTN 4 or 5
The IOTN is the international scale of treatment need, from 1 to 5. From grade 4, the malocclusion is considered severe and health insurance covers the costs.
Bring the e-card
That’s all it takes. Separate approval from the health insurance fund isn’t necessary — we determine eligibility directly at the consultation.
These malocclusions qualify for free braces
The following findings, among others, count as severe malocclusions. Whether one of them is present, and how pronounced it is, can’t be judged from the outside — that requires an orthodontic examination.
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Severe crowding of the teeth
- Pronounced overjet or underbite
- Gaps due to missing teeth
How free braces work at our practice
Book a free consultation
Online using the booking form on this page or by phone on 01 358 31 77. Appointments are available from Monday to Friday.
Examination & IOTN assessment
We examine your child’s teeth and determine the IOTN grade. This establishes whether health insurance will cover the treatment. A personal Treatment Coordinator accompanies you through the appointment. The visit is free of charge and without obligation.
Treatment plan
We draw up an individual treatment plan: which braces will be used, how long the treatment will take and what to expect during that time. You’ll also find out which private alternatives are available — so you can decide at your own pace.
Fitting the braces
The fixed braces are fitted. For younger children, we work with removable braces that guide jaw growth.
Check-ups & retainer
Check-ups are only needed every 10 to 14 weeks — easier on school, free time and your diary. Once treatment is complete, a retainer keeps the result stable for the long term.
Book a consultation now
Free braces or invisible braces?
At the Eltz Institut, everything is possible — from free braces with nothing to pay to invisible aligner treatment. We’ll work out together at the free consultation which route is medically sensible and feasible for your child.
Free braces (covered by health insurance)
- Free of charge — insurance covers everything
- For children and teens up to 18
- Only for severe malocclusion: IOTN 4 and 5
- Fixed braces with brackets
- Visible — the braces can be seen in everyday life
- Brushing teeth requires more care
- There may be restrictions during sport and music
Invisible braces (private)
- For every malocclusion — IOTN 1 to 5
- Practically invisible: a non-issue at school
- Removable for eating and brushing teeth
- No restrictions on sport, music and free time
- The result can be seen in advance in a 3D simulation
- Fewer check-ups thanks to Dental Monitoring
- Interest-free instalments for parents
With us, free doesn’t mean treated differently
Even with treatment covered by health insurance, your child receives the full quality of a practice that has done nothing but orthodontic treatment for over 40 years.
Five orthodontists
Five specialist orthodontists work at the Eltz Institut. Complex cases are analysed together every week — so the experience of the whole team goes into every treatment.
High-quality brackets
We work with high-quality self-ligating brackets and the gentlest titanium wires currently available — in treatment covered by health insurance, too.
Child-friendly
Our team is attuned to children and teens. We explain every step, take fears seriously and keep treatment as short and gentle as possible.
Few appointments
Check-ups only every 10 to 14 weeks. We avoid waiting times and keep the number of appointments as low as is medically justifiable.
Appointments Monday to Friday
Consultation and treatment appointments from Monday to Friday, right in Vienna’s 1st district and just a few minutes away on the U1/U3.
Everything under one roof
Diagnostics, planning, treatment and aftercare in one place — with no referrals and no extra trips.
All about free braces
You’ll get the most important answer from us at the practice: come to the free consultation with your child and we’ll tell you exactly what’s possible.
✓ Free & without obligation · ✓ Appointments Mon–Fri · ✓ Bring the e-card
Two things must come together: treatment must begin before the 18th birthday, and there must be severe malocclusion of grade IOTN 4 or 5. We determine the IOTN grade at the free consultation. Separate approval from the health insurance fund isn’t necessary for this.
IOTN stands for Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need — an international scale from 1 to 5 that indicates how necessary orthodontic treatment is. Grade 1 means little need for treatment, grade 5 a great need. From grade 4, the malocclusion is considered severe and health insurance covers the treatment in full.
That’s right. If your child is eligible for free braces, treatment is free of charge with no co-payment — there is no excess and no treatment contribution. The consultation beforehand is free too, whatever the outcome.
Treatment covered by health insurance uses fixed braces with brackets. For younger children, whose jaw growth can still be guided, we work with removable braces. Which option is medically sensible depends on age and the diagnosis.
Then free braces unfortunately aren’t possible — the malocclusion is considered mild to moderate. It can still be treated, though, with any method: from fixed braces to invisible braces, which are suitable for IOTN 1 to 5. In these cases, many health insurance funds also pay a contribution towards the costs. We’ll discuss what’s possible in your case at the consultation.
Only every 10 to 14 weeks. That’s much less often than used to be usual — and easier on school, free time and your diary.
That depends on the type and degree of the malocclusion. We set out the expected duration in the treatment plan you receive after the examination — so you know where you stand from the very start.
Yes. After the consultation, many families make a conscious decision for the invisible option, because it’s much more comfortable at school, during sport and for oral hygiene. We’ll show you both routes honestly — with all their pros and cons — and you decide at your own pace.
Just your child’s e-card. We take care of everything else at the practice. Allow a little time for the appointment so that we can answer all your questions without rushing.
Come to the Eltz Institut — we’ll tell you what’s possible
Free braces or invisible treatment: the consultation is free of charge and without obligation. Appointments from Monday to Friday, by phone on 01 358 31 77 or directly online.