Does my child need braces?
To determine whether your child needs orthodontic treatment, we recommend annual free check-ups at our institute from the age of 6. This way, we start treatment at the right time and can often prevent costly late effects that harm your child's health.
1. How old is your child?
2. Annual check-ups
To determine whether orthodontic treatment is necessary, we recommend annual check-ups from the age of 6. This way, we start treatment at the right time and can often prevent surgery.
If you notice any irregularities in your child earlier than that, please contact us.
2. Do you recognise a similar misalignment in your child?
The photos show the most common misalignments in children between 6 and 11 years of age. Click on the photo that matches best:
2. Do you recognise a similar misalignment in your child?
The photos show the most common misalignments in teenagers between 12 and 18 years of age. Click on the photo that matches best:
2. Do you recognise a similar misalignment in your child?
The photos show the most common misalignments in young adults. Click on the photo that matches best:
This misalignment is known as...
Overjet
Overjet is the most common form of misalignment. The lower jaw sits too far back, creating a gap between the upper and lower incisors.
Possible consequences
- Deep bite: When biting together, the upper incisors overlap the lower teeth. This can lead to injuries to the gums. The lower incisors can grow into the palate and injure the lining of the palate.
- Injury: The risk of injury to the incisors (for example during sport) is high. The lip no longer lies protectively over the teeth, and the lower teeth cannot provide additional support.
- Functional problems: There may be problems with biting off food, chewing or speech.
- Teeth wear down: Because the teeth do not mesh together exactly, the teeth wear down considerably. As a result, severely worn tooth crowns can be seen even in young adults.
- Jaw joint (TMJ) problems: An overjet forces the lower jaw to bite further forward. This can overload the jaw joint. As a result, there may be clicking in the jaw joint or considerable pain.
Treatment methods
Depending on the individual situation, one of the following treatment methods is likely to be suitable for your child:
Before and after photos
Here you can see an example of a patient whose overjet we successfully corrected at the Eltz Institut:
What patients say
Carla's story shows how important beautiful teeth are, quite apart from health reasons.
Book a free consultation now
Arrange your free consultation on +43 1 358 31 01 or via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
This misalignment is known as...
Underbite
With an underbite, the lower jaw bites too far in front of the upper jaw. The incisors sometimes meet edge to edge or even bite the wrong way round, one behind the other, in what is known as a crossbite.
Possible consequences
- Jaw joint (TMJ) problems occur: The jaw joint can be overloaded. This leads to clicking, or to restricted opening or locking of the jaw with considerable pain
- Teeth wear down: Because the teeth do not mesh together properly, the teeth wear down excessively. Severely worn tooth crowns are not unusual in young adults.
Treatment methods
Depending on the individual situation, one of the following treatment methods is likely to be suitable for your child:
Book a free consultation now
Arrange your free consultation on +43 1 358 31 01 or via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
This misalignment is known as...
Crossbite
In a lateral crossbite, the lower back teeth bite over the outside of the upper back teeth. A crossbite can occur on one side or on both sides.
Possible consequences
- Lopsided face: Over the years, a one-sided crossbite – if left untreated – causes the lower jaw to shift towards the side of the crossbite. The midlines of the dental arches no longer line up.
- Jaw joint (TMJ) problems: A one-sided crossbite forces the lower jaw to bite in a particular direction. In some cases, this overloads the jaw joint. As a result, clicking or considerable pain may occur.
- Wear of the teeth: Because the teeth do not mesh together exactly, the teeth wear down considerably. As a result, severely worn tooth crowns can be seen even in young adults.
Treatment methods
Depending on the individual situation, one of the following treatment methods is likely to be suitable for your child:
Before and after photos
Here you can see an example of a patient whose crossbite we successfully corrected at the Eltz Institut:
Book a free consultation now
Arrange your free consultation on +43 1 358 31 01 or via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
This misalignment is known as...
Open bite
With an open bite, the front teeth of the upper and lower jaw do not touch each other even when biting together. In extreme forms, only the very back molars touch when biting.
Possible consequences
- Inability to bite off food: These patients can no longer bite through something like a thin slice of cheese. Chewing function is severely impaired.
- Jaw joint (TMJ) problems: In some cases, the jaw joint can become overloaded. As a result, clicking or considerable pain may occur.
- Teeth wear down: The overloading of the back teeth increases the loss of tooth enamel, which often makes costly dental restorations necessary later on.
- Lower jaw looks longer: Purely visually, the face can appear long.
Treatment methods
Depending on the individual situation, one of the following treatment methods is likely to be suitable for your child:
What patients say
Carla's story shows how important beautiful teeth are, quite apart from health reasons.
Book a free consultation now
Arrange your free consultation on +43 1 358 31 01 or via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
This misalignment is known as...
Deep bite
The deep bite is a special form of Class II malocclusion. Typically, in a cover bite, some of the upper front teeth tilt backwards and the others tilt forwards.
Possible consequences
- Deep bite: The lower incisors can grow into the palate and injure the lining of the palate.
- Injury: The risk of injury to protruding incisors is high, for example during sport, because the lip no longer lies protectively over the teeth and the lower teeth cannot provide additional support.
- Crowding: The dental arches collapse because they are not supported by one another.
- Teeth wear down: Because the teeth do not mesh together exactly, the teeth wear down more heavily. As a result, severely worn tooth crowns can be seen even in young adults.
- Jaw joint (TMJ) problems: In some cases, the backward-tilted front teeth cause a forced bite. The reason is that the lower jaw is guided further back when biting together. This overloads the jaw joint and may lead to clicking, or to restricted opening or locking of the jaw with considerable pain.
Treatment methods
Depending on the individual situation, one of the following treatment methods is likely to be suitable for your child:
Before and after photos
Here you can see an example of a patient whose deep bite we successfully corrected at the Eltz Institut:
Book a free consultation now
Arrange your free consultation on +43 1 358 31 01 or via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
This misalignment is known as...
Crowding
With crowding, the front teeth overlap one another. In some cases, the misalignment is so pronounced that teeth stand almost one behind the other.
Possible consequences
- Pain: The teeth are very sensitive to pain.
- Receding gums: As the teeth migrate out of the bone, very pronounced gum recession develops on individual teeth over the years.
- Excessive tooth decay: Some teeth hardly get cleaned. As a result, tooth decay or at least gum inflammation very often develops. Discolouration of the teeth is not uncommon.
- Wear of the teeth: Because the front teeth do not mesh together exactly, the teeth wear down more heavily. As a result, severely worn tooth crowns can be seen even in young adults. This impairs the appearance of the teeth.
Treatment methods
Depending on the individual situation, one of the following treatment methods is likely to be suitable for your child:
Before and after photos
Here you can see an example of a patient whose crowding we successfully corrected at the Eltz Institut:
Book a free consultation now
Arrange your free consultation on +43 1 358 31 01 or via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
Why regular check-ups are important
Healthy tooth alignment is important not only for a beautiful smile but also for long-term dental health. Misalignments of the teeth and jaw can develop as early as childhood and can get worse without timely treatment. At the Eltz Institut, we offer you and your child professional orthodontic care to detect and correct these misalignments early. But how can you tell for sure whether braces are really necessary?
When are braces necessary?
Children's teeth develop at different speeds. However, certain signs can indicate that orthodontic treatment could be worthwhile. We recommend regular annual check-ups from the age of 6 to make sure that your child's teeth are developing properly.
Typical signs of misaligned teeth in children:
- Crowded teeth: when the teeth have too little space and grow crooked or rotated.
- Gaps: spaces between the teeth that are too large and will not close on their own without treatment.
- Overjet or crossbite: misalignments of the jaw that can lead to functional problems, e.g. difficulty biting or chewing.
- Protruding or receding jaws: the upper or lower jaw is too far forward or too far back, which affects the facial profile and the function of the bite.
- Swallowing or speech problems: some children develop swallowing or speech problems if the position of the teeth is not correct.
The right time for braces
One of the most common questions parents ask us is: “When is the right time to start with braces?” To determine whether orthodontic treatment is necessary, we recommend annual check-ups from the age of 6. This way, we start treatment at the right time and can often prevent surgery.
Benefits of early treatment:
- Growth guidance: while your child is growing, we can influence the development of the jaw and correct misalignments in a targeted way.
- Avoiding complications: timely treatment can prevent severe misalignments that would later require extensive procedures.
- Better oral hygiene: correctly aligned teeth are easier to clean and reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Why the Eltz Institut?
At the Eltz Institut, we specialise in providing the best possible care for children and teenagers. Our experienced team of orthodontists knows exactly how important it is to choose the right time for treatment while responding to the individual needs of each child.
Your benefits at the Eltz Institut:
- Specialised orthodontists: our specialist orthodontists focus on treating children and teenagers and offer tailor-made solutions for every type of misalignment.
- State-of-the-art technology: we use the latest 3D scanners and digital planning tools to monitor the development of the teeth closely and create precise treatment plans.
- A dedicated floor for children and teenagers: at the Eltz Institut, we have a floor of our own designed specifically for the needs of our young patients. From the playful atmosphere to specialised care – children feel at ease here.
- All types of treatment under one roof: whether free braces (covered by Austrian public health insurance), fixed brackets or invisible aligners – we offer every method so we can find the best solution for your child.
What happens at the initial examination?
The first step is always a thorough examination and consultation. We clarify whether and when orthodontic treatment is necessary and which options are suitable for your child. Our aim is to start the best possible treatment at the right time in order to achieve long-term results.
The initial examination step by step:
- 1. Examination of the teeth and jaw: we check the position of the teeth and, if necessary, take 3D scans or X-rays.
- 2. Consultation and planning: based on the diagnosis, we develop an individual treatment plan tailored to your child's needs.
- 3. Regular check-ups: even if braces are not yet needed, regular check-ups allow us to monitor the development of the teeth closely and intervene early.
Book your free consultation now!
Would you like to know whether your child needs braces? Book a free consultation at the Eltz Institut now and get advice from our specialised orthodontists. Together we will find out whether and when orthodontic treatment makes sense. Click the button to book an appointment and take the first step towards a healthy, straight smile!