Orthodontic treatment for children

Malocclusion is very common in children. An orthodontist will decide whether or not treatment is necessary. The severity of the malocclusion is determined using the so-called orthodontic indication groups (KIG), which are divided into five degrees. The classification is based on objectively measurable findings – for example, the misalignment of the teeth in millimeters. In the case of a classification of grades 1 and 2, health insurance companies are not required to contribute to the costs of orthodontic treatment. Only from grade 3 onwards is there a significant misalignment. In these cases, a health insurance company may cover the treatment costs.

We cover the full cost of your child's orthodontic treatment. In addition, we cover the cost of a fixed retainer up to €150 per jaw once treatment has been successfully completed. 

If the requirements for orthodontic treatment are met, your SBK will cover 100% of the costs incurred by your contracted dentist.

Your child is younger than 18 years of age at the start of orthodontic treatment.

Your orthodontist classifies your child's malocclusion as at least grade 3 in the orthodontic indication group (KIG).

Your child completes the orthodontic treatment in full.

Your orthodontic practice will bill us directly for 80% of the costs agreed upon in the treatment plan. If several of your children are undergoing orthodontic treatment at the same time, we will cover 90% of the costs for each additional child. You will initially pay the remaining 20% or 10% to your orthodontic practice yourself. In addition to your visits to the doctor, your co-payment is your active contribution to ensuring the success of the treatment.

Upon successful completion of treatment, a certificate of successful completion will be issued. Simply upload this confirmation from the orthodontic practice to Meine SBK together with all invoices for your co-payment. Alternatively, you can send us the invoice by mail.

Upload invoice

If your child needs orthodontic treatment, your orthodontic practice will draw up a treatment plan and submit it directly to us for approval. This plan contains all therapeutic measures - including the type of braces, the planned duration of treatment, and the estimated treatment costs. Your dental practice will discuss the course of the planned treatment with you in advance. After all, you and your child will be investing a lot of time and effort in the success of the treatment over the coming years. 

Good to know: For your safety, we review extensive treatments in advance with an independent second opinion. This is to ensure that the right type of treatment is chosen right from the start. If this applies to your planned treatment, you will be informed by your SBK consultant.
 

Your orthodontic practice may offer you additional services, such as ceramic braces or bracket sealants. These may be medically beneficial, but they are not covered by statutory health insurance. For this reason, we cannot contribute to these costs.

A special type of orthodontic treatment is the aligner splint. If you decide on treatment with these plastic splints, such as Invisalign, you will have to bear the costs yourself.

Our tip: Before agreeing to these additional services, ask your doctor to explain the benefits and costs in detail during a consultation. The success of orthodontic treatment is also ensured by the services covered by SBK.

At the start of orthodontic treatment, you as a customer enter into a treatment agreement with us and the orthodontic practice treating your child. This agreement is valid for the entire planned duration of treatment. A change of practice is not initially intended during this period.

Please speak with your personal SBK consultant if you wish to change your child’s orthodontic practice. You can find contact details [here]. We’ll support you through this process. Common reasons for switching include moving to a new location or a breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship. In any case, please review the private treatment contract you signed with the practice - it may contain specific terms regarding changes.

A fixed retainer is a thin metal wire attached to the back of the teeth to stabilise them. For successfully completed treatments, we reimburse up to €150 per jaw. Please send us your private invoice — you can use the upload function in the Meine SBK app. Alternatively, send it to us by post - you’ll find our address and a postage-paid envelope here.

Upload invoice