Financing braces for adults: how to make the cost manageable with instalment payments
03.07.2025
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The cost of braces for adults can quickly reach €6,000 or more, a sum that can be off-putting. But there are smart ways to finance this investment in your quality of life. This article shows you how to significantly reduce the financial burden through instalment payments, insurance benefits and tax advantages.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The cost of braces for adults usually ranges between €3,500 and €10,000 and is only covered by statutory health insurance (GKV) in rare medical exceptional cases.
An instalment payment directly with the orthodontist is often possible interest-free for six to twelve months.
Dental supplementary insurance and special medical loans are common ways to cover the costs, although it is important to pay attention to waiting periods and benefit scales.
Cost analysis: Why braces for adults can reach four- to five-figure amounts
The cost of orthodontic treatment as an adult typically ranges between 3,500 and 8,000 euros. In complex cases, or if you want invisible appliances, the costs can even rise to over 10,000 euros. Various factors influence the final price, including the duration of treatment, the type of braces – from metal brackets to ceramic or lingual systems – and the severity of the misalignment. Many practices offer interest-free financing for the first six to twelve months. You can obtain a detailed breakdown through an individual treatment and cost plan, of which you should ideally request two to three different versions. This transparency is the basis for further financing planning.
Benefit limits: When health insurers and supplementary insurance pay
Statutory health insurance funds (GKV) only cover the cost of braces for adults in cases of severe jaw anomalies that require a combined orthodontic and maxillofacial surgical procedure. This applies to fewer than five per cent of cases. For everyone else, treatment is a purely private expense. This is where private dental supplementary insurance comes in, which depending on the tariff can cover 50 to 100 per cent of the costs. Be aware of waiting periods of up to eight months and benefit scales that limit reimbursement in the first few years to, for example, €1,000 per year. Early take-up, long before treatment is recommended, is therefore crucial to securing the full entitlement to benefits.
Direct financing options: instalment plans and medical loans compared
The most common method of financing is direct instalment payment through the orthodontist, often in cooperation with external billing centres. These models often offer interest-free payments over a period of up to twelve months. An alternative is a special medical loan from a bank, which often offers more favourable interest rates than a standard instalment loan. A calculation example: With treatment costs of €7,000 and a term of 48 months, an interest rate of four per cent results in a monthly instalment of around €158. The advantage of a loan lies in the immediate settlement of the doctor’s bill and the clear monthly burden. This flexibility makes it possible to start treatment without delay.
Expert tips: How to actively reduce total costs
Beyond financing alone, there are other levers to reduce the financial burden. Our expert tip: Have your orthodontist certify the medical necessity of the treatment. This allows you to claim the costs as extraordinary expenses in your tax return. An acceptable personal contribution is taken into account, depending on income and marital status, but several thousand euros can often be deducted. Plan larger expenses within a single calendar year to ensure you exceed the threshold for reasonable hardship. Further savings can be achieved by carefully reviewing your insurance policy and obtaining several quotes to compare the cost of dental treatment.
Here are four steps to optimise costs:
Obtain at least two treatment and cost plans from different orthodontists.
Confirm in writing with your supplementary dental insurance before treatment begins that the costs will be covered.
Speak to your doctor about more cost-effective but equally effective treatment methods.
Collect all receipts and submit the costs in your tax return to receive a refund.
The combination of these strategies can significantly reduce the financial burden and pave the way to your new smile.
The right term: Adjust monthly instalments to your budget
The choice of the right term for your instalment plan or loan is crucial for financial affordability. A longer term, for example 72 rather than 36 months, significantly lowers the monthly instalment, but increases the total cost through interest. An instalment should ideally account for no more than five per cent of your monthly net income, in order to avoid financial shortfalls. Many providers allow flexible overpayments, with which you can reduce the remaining debt more quickly and cost-effectively. A loan with a long term can bring the monthly burden down to under 100 euros. Carefully weigh up which monthly burden is comfortable for you over several years.
Request your individual risk analysis now
Orthodontic treatment is an important investment in your health and wellbeing. Financing must be carefully planned to suit your personal circumstances. Have us review your insurance situation free of charge and receive concrete suggestions for optimisation to ensure you have the best possible cover for your treatment.
More useful links
Sparkasse offers information on the cost of braces for parents and children.
Verbraucherzentrale offers explanations of out-of-pocket costs, statutory health insurance benefits and additional costs at the orthodontist.
Bundeszahnärztekammer provides data and figures on the dental profession in Germany.
Bundeszahnärztekammer provides information on a study on dental and jaw misalignments in children.
Bundesgesundheitsministerium offers access to the IGES report on orthodontics (KfO).
Barmer provides the Dental Report 2024.
Bundesgesundheitsministerium offers information on dental treatment.
The Federal Government's Health Portal provides information on dental services.
Verbraucherzentrale NRW offers information on advance payments and instalment agreements at the orthodontist.
FAQ
What financing options are available for adult braces?
The three main options are: direct instalment payments with the orthodontist (often with interest-free periods), taking out supplementary dental insurance (before treatment begins) or arranging a special medical loan from a bank.
Does the statutory health insurance fund (GKV) cover the cost of braces for adults?
No, in general not. Costs are only covered by statutory health insurance (GKV) in very rare and severe medical cases that require combined maxillofacial surgery and orthodontic treatment.
Is supplementary dental insurance worth it for planned braces?
Dental supplementary insurance is only worthwhile if it is taken out before an orthodontist has recommended treatment. Most policies have waiting periods of eight months and do not cover misalignments that have already been diagnosed.
Can I deduct the cost of my braces from tax?
Yes, if the treatment is medically necessary, you can claim the costs you have paid yourself as extraordinary expenses in your tax return. The tax office applies a reasonable threshold, which depends on your income and marital status.
What is better: instalment payments with the doctor or a bank loan?
An instalment plan at the doctor is often interest-free for up to 12 months and straightforward. A bank loan offers more flexibility through longer terms and potentially lower overall costs if the interest rates are more favourable than after the interest-free period at the doctor.
What are the interest rates for an instalment plan for braces?
Many practices offer interest-free instalment payments for 6 to 12 months via billing centres. For longer terms or bank loans, interest rates typically range between three and seven per cent per year, depending on creditworthiness and the provider.
