• Heidelberg: +49 (0) 6221 6516090 | Böblingen (English speaking only): +49 (0) 7031 205 6062

Orthodontics in our Practice


Our goal is simple, a beautiful smile … faster, more comfortable, with lasting results. And virtually invisible to others!

Continuing Orthodontic Education

How do we achieve this? Through constant, extensive training in orthodontics, general and neuromuscular dentistry, and jaw joint treatment. Charles Smith also relies on over 25 years of orthodontic care experience, of which a few years he almost exclusively treated only orthodontic patients. Throughout the years, orthodontics has remained an integral and large portion of his general practice. Charles Smith DDS attends yearly many hours of continuing education limited to orthodontists where he finds he is the only general dentist. Charles A. Smith also finds he is asked by orthodontists about the many concepts and techniques he has learned or created for better, faster orthodontic care results.

Orthodontist in Heidelberg and Böblingen

Every dentist or orthodontist practicing dentistry is in reality a doctor of the entire system that controls the positioning and function of your jaw. The goal of every orthodontic treatment should be a jaw position based on a harmonious relationship of the three factors of occlusion – the teeth, muscles and jaw joints. Unfortunately, most orthodontists lack much knowledge or education of these relationships and how to achieve the ideal relationship, which is called a neuromuscular bite, through orthodontics. This is where dentist Charles A. Smith excels.

Charles A. Smith DDS views, possibly in reverse to the average orthodontist, that the teeth are merely stops for the jaw position, and that they are secondary in importance to the jaw joints and muscles, and perhaps the most important joint of the body, the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). With this point of view, visualization of the ideal end result is easily achieved. It can also be tested and confirmed through Neuromuscular dentistry as being the ideal jaw position.

Our patients benefit from our expertise:

  • Fastest orthodontic methods available
  • Physiologically natural biomimetric for the body
  • No dental extractions
  • Non-surgical 98 % of the time
  • Fewer appointments
  • Relapse minimized if not eliminated
  • Gentler with less discomfort
  • Eliminates TMD and associated symptoms
  • Creates beautiful smiles and faces

Orthodontic Diagnosis

To effectively treat a patient, diagnostic information must be gathered to properly create a workable treatment plan.

  • Patient Wishes – We listen to our patients to make sure we achieve their end dental and facial goals. Often to do this, we review our photograph collection with the patient of all our previously treated orthodontic cases.

  • Itero Digital Impressions
    – 3 dimensional digital impressions are more exact, non-intrusive, more easily evaluated and measured than traditional models.
  • Orthodontic Photographs – We take 8 to 10 intra and extra oral photographs of every orthodontic patient both before and after treatment.
  • Digital Panoramic X-ray – This is a standard part of orthodontic diagnosis. We can view in this X-ray the teeth, bones, muscles and soft tissue surrounding the jaws, jaw joints and base of the skull.
  • Digital Cephalometric X-ray – The (Ceph) or lateral X-ray helps to relate the relationship between both jaws and the skull.
  • Head and Neck Exam – Detailed exam of the teeth, mouth, soft tissues of the head and neck, and jaw and cervical joints.
  • Neuromuscular Evaluation – We evaluate the harmony between the teeth, muscles, and jaw joints with jaw tracking, electromyography and sonography by way of computerized instrumentation. Very few offices offer this standard of care.

Orthodontic Treatment

Cost of orthodontic treatment

Public Health Insurance

Orthodontic treatment in Germany is covered by the public health insurance until the 18th birthday if the diagnostic findings are severe enough. Typically they do not cover mild cases. Because the insurance covers only standard orthodontic treatments, most of the modern treatment options are not covered by the public insurance.Before 1990, the public insurance would reimburse up to €5.000. Today, the public insurance pays only €2.500. Witt the improvement of materials and techniques, along with an increase in the expense of the materials, appliances, and working overhead of an office, it is no wonder why patients may pay €1.000 to many €1.000’s supplemental costs privately for orthodontic treatment when they receive modern materials and techniques.

Private Heath Insurance

We use the standard GOZ fee schedule for private insurance. Although the private insurance companies tend to cover more orthodontic expenses they have a decreasing willingness to refund treatment costs and private insurance customers have become acquainted to the fact that they have to pay for more of the costs on their own. The treatment costs can range from €1.000 for straightening a few front teeth, to as much as €10.000 for a complex adult treatment.

Hygiene for orthodontic patients

Patients will be seen in our office approximately every 4 months for routine prophylaxis. We will remove the arch wires or appliances and provide a prophylaxis, oral hygiene instructions, and a review of foods to avoid with braces. We will then place new arch wires to further the treatment. We find that decay and infection is kept to a minimum with our protocol.