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Straight Teeth for a Lifetime

Faster, more effective and gentler therapy for children and adolescents


Straight Teeth for Life

Faster, More Effective, and Gentler Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Treating children requires a great deal of empathy, trust, and a pleasant practice atmosphere. Early and regular check-ups make it possible to individually determine the optimal time to start treatment in order to effectively respond to growth-related changes in the dentition.

The teeth and jaws of children and adolescents are in permanent development. A particularly critical time when check-ups by the orthodontist and the start of therapy are meaningful and important is the phase of tooth change.

Early Treatment in Primary Dentition

We recommend timely examination of the functionality of the child's dentition. Irregularities in the primary dentition often manifest problems in the permanent dentition. For some dental misalignments, it is advisable to begin correction already in the primary dentition to ensure undisturbed dental development.

First orthodontic check-ups can be beneficial from the age of 3 to 5, as misalignments and dysfunctions can be detected at this age. At this age, the primary teeth are fully present. It is advisable to intervene early with a short therapy if a child lisps, has sucked their thumb for a long time, or has used a pacifier for an extended period.

Straight teeth for life: With early corrective therapy, you can save your child more extensive measures later.

The most common early treatment measures include:

  • Eliminating bad habits - so-called "habits" - such as thumb sucking, lip biting, tongue thrusting
  • Closing a frontally open bite
  • Correcting a crossbite in both the posterior and anterior tooth areas
  • Keeping gaps open with a so-called space maintainer when a primary tooth has been lost prematurely
  • Pronounced lack of space due to a jaw that is too small
  • Supernumerary teeth
Orthodontic consultation at the specialist practice Gelnhausen

Treatments in Mixed Dentition

Treatments in Mixed Dentition

The transitional phase in which primary teeth are replaced by succeeding permanent teeth is called mixed dentition. If no irregularities have occurred in the primary dentition, the ideal age for the first orthodontic examination is 8 to 9 years. In this phase, therapeutic steps are usually performed with removable braces such as single plates or functional orthodontic appliances, such as a bionator.

The most common measures include:

  • Repositioning tilted teeth back into the dental arch
  • Correction of individual teeth that are in head bite or crossbite
  • Creating space for succeeding teeth
  • Correction of jaw misalignments, such as overbite


In a holistically oriented orthodontics, we can use the expected pubertal growth spurt with the development of facial bones to optimize the aesthetic appearance.

The Essentials at a Glance
  • First check-up possible between the ages of 3 and 5.
  • Early treatments are individually planned.
  • Cost coverage depends on the KIG classification.
  • Treatment is child-friendly and growth-oriented.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

How does braces treatment work for children?
That depends on age. During the transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth (mixed dentition), we take advantage of natural jaw growth. At this stage, treatment usually involves removable braces, such as single plates or gentle appliances like the Bionator.
My child still sucks their thumb – does that damage the teeth?
Yes, persistent thumb sucking or prolonged use of a pacifier are bad habits (so-called "habits") that can lead to an open bite or crossbite. Early treatment during the baby teeth phase helps prevent more severe misalignments later on.
When should I take my child to the orthodontist for the first time?
Initial orthodontic check-ups are usually recommended from the age of 3 to 5 to detect misalignments in the baby teeth early. If there are no abnormalities, the age of 8 to 9 during the tooth change phase (mixed dentition) is ideal for the first examination.
From what age does health insurance cover braces for my child?
Statutory health insurance covers the costs for children and adolescents when there is a medical necessity. This is classified according to the orthodontic indication groups (KIG levels 3 to 5). We check this classification directly during the first examination.
How can dental misalignments in children be prevented?
Some jaw anomalies are genetic and unavoidable. However, many misalignments develop through avoidable habits. To prevent maldevelopment, harmful habits such as thumb sucking, intensive use of pacifiers or feeding bottles should be stopped by the age of three at the latest. Mouth breathing with open lips, incorrect swallowing patterns (where the tongue presses against the teeth), and lip biting should also be addressed early.
Thorough oral hygiene and a tooth-friendly diet protect against premature loss of baby teeth.
Are pacifiers and thumb sucking harmful to the teeth?
Yes, persistent thumb sucking or intensive pacifier use beyond the third year of life damages dental development and can lead to an "open bite" or deformed jawbones. The consequences are often pronounced dental misalignments and associated speech disorders such as lisping.