PATIENT AREA

An orthodontist is a specialist who, after completing dental school, passes a competitive exam (known as the "internat," formerly CECSMO) to access an additional training program.

This 3-year program provides the specialization in orthodontics.

It includes over 4,300 hours of clinical training in hospitals and 2,000 hours of theoretical coursework.

This advanced training covers complex cases and multidisciplinary care involving other medical specialties.

To verify whether your practitioner is a certified orthodontist, you can search the French Health Insurance website ameli.fr. The designation "spécialiste en orthopédie dento-faciale" confirms that the practitioner is a qualified orthodontic specialist.

Brushing should be done at least twice a day—morning and evening.

It is essential to brush not only the teeth but also the gums to prevent swelling and bleeding.

Movements should be vertical, from pink (the gums) to white (the teeth): 10 strokes on each surface.

Except when wearing aligners, it's important to be mindful of your diet and avoid foods that are too hard or sticky.

It is also essential to stop habits such as nail biting or thumb sucking.

Orthodontic appliances are delicate and require proper care.
They should be cleaned thoroughly using a toothbrush and dish soap.

Elastics help correct a wide range of bite issues in both the vertical (up/down) and sagittal (front/back) directions.

To be effective, elastics must be worn continuously—24 hours a day. Ideally, they should only be removed for tooth brushing.

They must be replaced every 24 hours.

If elastics are not worn as prescribed, treatment will not progress, and good results cannot be achieved.

Wire Poking
If the end of a metal wire is causing discomfort or injury, please contact us so we can trim it.

Detached Bracket
One or more elements may come loose if they are repeatedly subjected to excessive pressure.
The bracket will remain attached to the wire, which keeps it connected to the neighboring teeth.
If it rubs against your cheek, it may cause irritation. In that case, cover it with orthodontic wax—usually provided at the beginning of treatment.

Unless otherwise instructed, this issue is not serious in the short term, but repeated incidents may delay the overall treatment duration.
Please inform us of the issue so we can adjust your next appointment accordingly.

Sores / Mouth Ulcers
Friction from brackets on the cheeks, lips, or tongue can cause painful irritation in the days following their placement.
These typically disappear after a few days.

To relieve discomfort, cover the brackets causing irritation with orthodontic wax.
We will give you a box of wax at the start of treatment and provide more during treatment if needed.
Once the area is protected, the irritation will quickly subside.

To benefit from orthodontic reimbursement by the French Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie), prior approval must be obtained. Treatment must begin within 6 months of receiving this prior approval and before the child’s 16th birthday.

To request prior approval, the practitioner must complete one of the following two forms:

• Form S3150;
• or Form S3155.

The form must then be sent by mail to the consulting dental surgeon of the Health Insurance fund. In case of a refusal of orthodontic reimbursement by the Health Insurance fund, a notification stating the reasons for the medical or administrative refusal will be sent within 15 days.

If the Health Insurance does not issue a refusal notification within this 15-day period, the insured person may consider their request as accepted.

The reimbursement rate varies depending on the total expense, but is often quite good when combining Health Insurance and supplementary health insurance (mutuelle).

Orthodontic treatment for children is covered for up to 6 semesters.

Orthodontic treatment for adults is often reimbursed to a lesser extent. From the Social Security side, adults are not eligible for orthodontic reimbursement. However, many mutual insurance companies offer plans with very good adult orthodontic coverage.

Therefore, to reduce costs, adults must turn to a health insurance provider. Company mutual plans often provide better coverage than private ones, but if you know you'll be undergoing adult orthodontic treatment, you can choose your plan accordingly and ask a broker to help you find a mutual plan with excellent coverage.

What are the reimbursements from Health Insurance?

The consultation costs €23 and is 100% covered by Social Security and your mutuelle.

Subsequently, orthodontic treatment fees are unregulated, and may include additional charges. That’s why a detailed estimate is provided during the first consultation.

• Submitting the estimate to your mutual insurance

To supplement orthodontic reimbursement for children and adults, many patients choose to subscribe to a good health insurance policy. Indeed, your mutuelle may cover part or all of the remaining costs after Social Security coverage. This reimbursement varies depending on the plan. Mutuelle coverage for both children and adults may take two forms:

• Fixed annual amount: the health insurance provider grants a fixed amount to be spent annually on child and adult orthodontics.
• Percentage-based: the health insurance reimburses a percentage of the Social Security orthodontic reimbursement base.

After receiving an estimate from your orthodontist, contact your complementary health insurance provider to learn about the reimbursement terms for child and adult orthodontic care.

• Payments

The practice offers several payment methods: check, direct debit, credit card, or cash.

An installment plan can also be arranged to spread out your payments.

• Third-party payment

The practice offers third-party payment. You will only need to pay the mutuelle portion.