Cost assumption by health insurance | 29.10.2025
Many people dream of a perfect smile with beautifully aligned teeth. Braces are often the answer. However, corrective dentistry for children or adults can put significant strain on the household budget. Read on to discover which orthodontic costs can be covered by your health insurance.
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More than half of all children in Switzerland have a misaligned jaw or teeth (dysgnathia), requiring orthodontic treatment with braces. Many adults also suffer from misaligned teeth because of either a lack of treatment or poorly performed corrective dental work.
This can result in serious functional problems, such as an increased risk of gum disease (periodontitis) as well as tooth damage, tinnitus, tension and migraines caused by an uneven load distribution when chewing. For most adults, however, the biggest concern is the aesthetics and achieving a more beautiful smile.
In the majority of cases, the cost of fixed or removable braces for children and adults in Switzerland can exceed 10,000 francs. The costs depend on the type of braces and material used and the effort required for fitting the braces.
Transparent tooth aligners are usually cheaper than traditional fixed braces. The dentist will advise you of the expected costs – for you or your child – after a preliminary consultation.
In Switzerland, dental treatments and corrective orthodontics are not covered by compulsory health insurance. The cost of braces is only covered in the case of a serious temporomandibular disorder (a condition affecting the movement of the jaw).
It is therefore advisable to take out dental insurance for yourself or your child, which includes cover for braces. Almost every health insurer offers supplementary dental insurance. There are various products available, each with different levels of cover and benefits.
In most cases, a child will consult with an orthodontist and start treatment around the age of eight. The braces are worn for two to three years. Costs can often exceed the 10,000-franc mark.
Because dental treatments and corrective orthodontics – including braces – are not covered under compulsory health insurance, many parents take out supplementary dental insurance for their children. This means that part of the costs will then be covered: the amount varies depending on the health insurance and benefit class.
Supplementary dental insurance from KPT with benefit class 4 provides cover for the following (list not exhaustive):
Supplementary dental insurance with benefit class 4 is free of charge for children under one.
Important: take out supplementary dental insurance as early as possible. KPT accepts children before the age of five without reservations and without a certificate.
The basic rule when taking out insurance for your child is to make sure that it covers both dental treatments and corrective orthodontics.
The insurance plans that are useful or even essential for you depend on your family’s circumstances and your preference as to how fully your child should be covered. Try to imagine different scenarios: if corrective orthodontic work is required, could you cover part of the costs of the braces yourself? How important are lower insurance costs to you and how much value do you attach to comprehensive insurance cover? This will determine which benefit class is the most appropriate for you.
Yes, in many cases. For most people, it’s about the aesthetics and improving their smile. However, corrective orthodontics may also be required to address medical problems, such as problems with the jaw or chewing, migraines and a high risk of caries due to crowded teeth.
Invisible, removable aligners are becoming increasingly popular for orthodontic treatment alongside fixed devices such as lingual (or hidden) braces that attach to the inside of the teeth or traditional metal braces that attach to the outside.
It is impossible to give a specific figure for treatment with aligners. Costs start at around 2,500 francs, but the final cost will depend on the provider as well as the nature and duration of treatment.
Whether new fillings, treatment for gum disease, teeth whitening or dental hygiene, dental care can quickly become expensive, especially if braces are needed.
With supplementary dental insurance, you receive a contribution towards dental hygiene and various treatment costs.
KPT supplementary dental insurance, benefit class 1, is also available to adults without a health check or a dental certificate. With this option, KPT covers 50% of the costs (up to 500 francs per year) for dental treatment and corrective orthodontics.
In her role as Head of the Benefits Management team at KPT, Céline Luginbühl is responsible for the clear, proper and customer-oriented handling of complex benefits matters. As the central contact for benefit-related enquiries and regulatory changes, she lends her expertise to internal and external committees and actively contributes to the further development of the Benefits area.
Supplementary dental insurance with benefit class 4 offers the optimum cover for your children, reimbursing 75% of the costs for braces up to the age of 20 without a financial limit. It also covers high-quality dental care, including dental hygiene and caries prevention.
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To be sufficiently covered in the event of illness, it is important to choose the right health insurance for your child or children. But which deductible and which basic health insurance model are best for you? And which supplementary insurance is worthwhile? We help untangle all the options.
Basic health insurance can be supplemented in several ways; for example, with dental insurance or flexible hospital insurance. But which plans should you choose? Read on to discover the types of supplementary insurance available and the benefits they provide.
With supplementary dental insurance, benefit class 4, you receive help towards the high costs of braces and will receive 75% of the costs back up to the age of 20 without a financial limit.
