Braces and aligners (ortodoncia) for children and adults in Spain

Key rules

• Public cover: The public health system does not pay for children's braces.
• Quote: Get a written, itemised quote that says whether retainers and follow-up visits are included.
• Moving: You pay for work already done, and the initial payment is usually not refunded.
• Records: Ask for your clinical report, X-rays and records before you leave so a new orthodontist can continue.

What you will pay

Expect to pay privately. The public health system does not cover braces for children. It covers basic children's dental care such as check-ups, extractions, sealants and fluoride. Only severe malformations, such as cleft lip and palate, may get orthodontic treatment in hospital units. Regional child dental programmes differ and do not cover routine braces, so ask your community's health service what yours includes.

Typical private prices for a full treatment:

• Children, metal brackets: about 1,500 to 2,500 euros.
• Children, ceramic brackets: about 2,500 to 3,500 euros.
• Children, early removable appliances: about 500 to 1,500 euros.
• Adults, metal brackets: about 2,000 to 3,500 euros.
• Adults, ceramic or sapphire brackets: about 2,500 to 4,500 euros.
• Adults, clear aligners: about 3,000 to 5,500 euros.
• Adults, lingual braces (behind the teeth): about 4,000 to 8,000 euros.

Prices vary by city, clinic and how complex your case is.

Aligners or brackets?

Brackets are fixed to your teeth, and metal is the cheapest. Ceramic is less visible and costs more. Clear aligners are removable and nearly invisible. Simple cases can start around 1,500 to 2,500 euros with cheaper brands, including direct-to-consumer ones. Complex cases cost more. With aligners, lost trays can mean extra charges. With brackets, broken ones can.

How the bill is split

Clinics quote one total price, then split it into three parts:

1. Study and diagnosis fee: records, X-rays and models, usually about 100 to 300 euros. Some clinics credit it against the treatment.
2. Initial payment when the appliance is fitted, often about 300 to 900 euros.
3. Fixed monthly instalments, often about 50 to 120 euros, for the whole treatment.

Treatment usually lasts 12 to 30 months. Some clinics offer financing.

Ask for a written, itemised quote. Check three things: whether retainers (retención) are included, whether follow-up visits cost extra, and what happens if something breaks or is lost. Retainers are often billed separately.

If you move mid-treatment

You pay for the work already done, and the clinic normally stops billing after your last visit. Contracts often say that early termination or transfer does not earn back the initial payment, and unpaid instalments may still be due. Read this clause before you sign.

Before you leave, ask for your clinical report, X-rays and records. You have a right to your clinical history. Another orthodontist can then continue your treatment.

The new orthodontist normally charges a fresh fee for the remaining treatment. The original clinic seldom refunds anything for work already done. Agree the new fee in writing before you start again.

The timeline and questions below cover the steps and common extra charges.

Timeline and deadlines

• Pay the study and diagnosis fee for records, X-rays and models: Before treatment starts; typically about 100 to 300 euros, sometimes credited to the treatment

• Pay fixed monthly instalments: Every month for the whole treatment, often about 50 to 120 euros, usually 12 to 30 months

• Sort out retainers (retención): At the end of treatment; billed separately or included, depending on the clinic

• If you move, ask for your clinical report, X-rays and records: At your last visit before moving

• Agree a fee for the remaining treatment with the new orthodontist: After you move, before the new orthodontist continues

Frequently asked questions

Does the public health system pay for children's braces?

No, the public health system does not pay for children's braces. Regional child dental programmes cover prevention and basic treatment, such as check-ups, extractions, sealants and some fillings, usually for ages roughly 6 to 15.

How much do clear aligners cost compared with metal braces?

Clear aligners typically cost about 2,000 to 6,000 euros, against about 1,500 to 3,500 euros for fixed metal braces. Simple cases with cheaper brands can start near 1,500 euros. Ceramic braces run about 2,500 to 4,500 euros and lingual braces (fitted behind the teeth) about 4,000 to 8,000 euros.

What do I pay if I move abroad or to another city mid-treatment?

You pay for the work already done, and the clinic normally stops billing after your last visit. Ask for a clinical report, X-rays and records so a new orthodontist can continue. Expect a fresh fee for the remaining treatment, and do not expect a refund of the initial payment.

What extra charges can come on top of the monthly instalments?

Retainers, follow-up visits, broken brackets and lost aligners can all be charged extra, depending on the clinic. The initial study with X-rays and models usually costs about 100 to 300 euros and is sometimes credited to the treatment. Ask which of these the written quote includes.