Who treats you
Dr. Lena-Maria Merkle, dentist (orthodontics/aligners), and Dr. med. dent. M.Sc. Sandro Strößner, together with the team at Zahnkompetenzzentrum Weißenfels.
First Appointment
Consultation with an intraoral scan and 3D simulation; you then decide in your own time.
Costs
A written treatment and cost plan before starting; for children and young people, a statutory health insurance contribution may apply depending on the findings (KIG), while aligners are usually a private, self-funded service.
First Step
Book an appointment around the clock via our online reception (the “Appointment” button), or by phone during opening hours on 03443 339 65 54.
“Crooked teeth aren't just a matter of appearance. Misalignments make oral hygiene more difficult, encourage tooth decay and periodontitis, put strain on the jaw joint, and can affect speech.”
Cone-beam CT scan, intraoral scans, structured assessment. The first appointment isn't treatment — it's a conversation backed by data.
From the final dental prosthesis back to the surgery. What should exist at the end determines the first step — not the other way round.
Coordinated by one team under one roof. Surgery, prosthetics, laboratory — nothing handed off, nothing lost in translation.
We plan every course of orthodontic treatment digitally: intraoral scan, 3D simulation, aligner production. You can see how your teeth will look at the end, even before treatment begins. Treatment duration varies between 6 and 24 months, depending on the individual case.
Short videos in which our team answers the questions we're asked most often. No jargon, no sales pressure.
The videos provide general information and do not replace individual advice or examination. The course and outcome of treatment depend on personal circumstances; medicine offers no guarantee of success. All videos have subtitles.
FUNDAMENTALS
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with the position of the teeth and the relationship between the jaws. The aim of orthodontic treatment is to correct misalignments of teeth and jaws so that the teeth fit together cleanly, can be loaded evenly, and can be cleaned effectively. This is not just about a straight smile, but about the teeth, chewing muscles, and jaw joints working well together – an aspect that plays an important role in the long-term health of teeth and gums.
Teeth are rarely perfectly aligned by nature. Crowded, rotated, or tilted teeth, gaps, an overbite, or a crossbite are common and have a wide range of causes – from inherited jaw size to early habits such as thumb-sucking, to baby teeth lost too early. Orthodontic treatment gradually moves teeth into their planned position through gentle, continuous pressure. In the process, the bone around the tooth root breaks down on one side and rebuilds on the other, so that the tooth, together with its root, slowly moves through the jawbone. This biological remodelling process takes time and cannot be sped up at will.
Various approaches are available for this today. Alongside the classic fixed brace with brackets and wires, clear aligners – removable, almost invisible plastic splints – have become established as a treatment option. Which approach is suitable in an individual case depends on the type and extent of the misalignment, on age, and on personal preferences. There is no single best method overall; there is only the one that suits the particular situation.
At the Zahnkompetenzzentrum Dr. med. dent. M.Sc. Sandro Strößner in Weißenfels, we take the time to thoroughly assess your starting situation and explain the possible treatment routes to you clearly. We support patients from the town and the whole of the Burgenlandkreis, from the initial consultation, through digital planning, to the completion of treatment and the subsequent stabilisation of the result. Diagnostics, planning and care all come together in one place.
Well-aligned teeth are easier to clean, because fewer hard-to-reach niches form in which plaque and bacteria can collect. This can have a favourable effect on the risk of decay and gum inflammation. A balanced bite also distributes chewing forces more evenly across the teeth and can reduce uneven strain. Speech and biting can also benefit from well-ordered teeth. Orthodontic treatment therefore always pursues functional and aesthetic goals at the same time, without this meaning that a specific outcome can be guaranteed in advance.
MISALIGNMENTS
Orthodontic treatment can be considered for a wide range of malocclusions. Some are mainly noticeable visually, while others have a tangible effect on chewing, speech or cleaning the teeth. Whether and to what extent treatment makes sense can only be assessed after a thorough examination – the following overview shows typical situations that bring patients to us.
Misalignments vary in severity, and not every one necessarily requires treatment. More pronounced deviations, however, can make cleaning harder, put uneven strain on individual teeth, or affect how the jaws work together. Some patients are mainly bothered by the appearance of their teeth, while others notice functional problems when chewing or uneven wear. During your consultation, we give a clinical assessment of your findings and discuss openly whether treatment is medically advisable, serves purely aesthetic wishes, or whether watchful monitoring is sufficient for now.
Even after previous orthodontic treatment, teeth can shift slightly again over the years. Such later changes are a common reason why adults revisit the subject. Whether a further correction makes sense, and which approach would be suitable, is something we assess individually, based on the current findings.
ALIGNERS VS. FIXED BRACES
Two basic treatment approaches are available today for most malocclusions: fixed braces and treatment with clear aligners. Both move the teeth through controlled pressure, but apply this pressure in different ways and with different characteristics. Neither option is fundamentally superior to the other – what matters is what suits the particular malocclusion, everyday life, and willingness to cooperate with the treatment.
With fixed braces, small brackets are bonded to the teeth and connected by a thin archwire. Through this wire and targeted adjustments, the teeth are moved continuously. Fixed braces work around the clock, with nothing needing to be taken out, and are therefore not dependent on the patient remembering to wear them. They are suitable for a wide range of misalignments, including more complex movements of individual teeth and roots. Cleaning around the brackets and wire, however, requires particular care, and the brackets are visible – unless tooth-coloured or lingual (inside-facing) variants are chosen.
Aligners are thin, transparent plastic trays that are custom-made for your teeth and fit exactly over the row of teeth. They are worn in a planned sequence: each tray shifts the teeth a small amount, before being followed by the next tray in the series. Aligners are removed for eating and cleaning your teeth, and otherwise worn for most of the day and night – a wearing time of around twenty-two hours a day is usually recommended. Because they are almost invisible, they attract little attention in everyday life. However, the success of treatment depends significantly on the trays being worn consistently.
Which approach is suitable cannot be stated in general terms. Some misalignments can be corrected well with aligners, while for other tooth movements a fixed appliance may offer better control. Depending on the case, a combination of both approaches is also conceivable. During the consultation in Weißenfels, we assess your findings and discuss objectively which form of treatment may be suitable for your situation – without promising a particular result that could not responsibly be guaranteed in advance.
VORTEILE
Many patients are interested in aligners because they want discreet treatment that fits well into everyday life. The following points summarise the characteristics of clear aligners – always provided that the malocclusion is suitable for this approach and the aligners are worn reliably.
As convenient as being removable is in everyday life, it is also the biggest demand on cooperation. If the trays are worn for too short a time, or are often forgotten, the planned schedule is delayed, or the result falls short of what was planned. Aligners therefore require a high degree of personal responsibility. In addition, no drinks other than water should be consumed while wearing the tray, as sugar or dyes can otherwise collect underneath it. Before treatment begins, we discuss openly whether aligner treatment fits your everyday life, so that you can make a realistic decision.
ABLAUF
Aligner treatment is a planned process that begins with careful diagnostics and is structured into individual phases that build on one another. Modern digital methods make it possible to show the planned tooth movement on screen before treatment even begins. The following overview shows the typical course – the exact sequence and duration always depend on your personal situation and may vary in individual cases.
For many patients, a digital scan is more comfortable than a conventional impression, because no impression material needs to be placed in the mouth. At the same time, it provides precise three-dimensional data, which forms the basis for planning and producing the entire series of aligners. The visualisation of the planned tooth movement is a planning aid, not a guarantee of a particular final result – the actual course depends, among other things, on the biological response of the tissue and on consistently wearing the aligners.
ADULTS & CHILDREN
Orthodontics has long since stopped being a subject that only concerns children and young people. In principle, teeth can be moved at any age, as long as the gums and bone are healthy. However, the requirements, goals and typical treatment approaches differ considerably between age groups. What makes sense in an individual case depends on the findings, age and personal preferences.
In children and young people, the growth of the jaw can be factored into treatment. While bone and jaw are still developing, certain misalignments can be influenced more favourably than once growth is complete. For this reason, an early orthodontic assessment is worthwhile, so that the right moment for any treatment is not missed. Not every issue needs to be treated straight away – often, simply monitoring development is enough at first. Depending on the diagnosis, removable appliances, fixed braces, or, in suitable cases, aligners may be used. In children and young people, cooperation in wearing removable appliances also plays an important role in how treatment progresses.
In adults, jaw growth is complete, so corrections focus on moving the teeth within the existing bone. Purely dental misalignments can be treated effectively even in adulthood; pronounced discrepancies in jaw position, however, can only be changed to a limited extent through tooth movement alone. Many adults place particular value on discreet treatment and therefore opt for clear aligners or understated fixed appliances. An important precondition in adults is a healthy foundation: the gums and periodontium should be free of inflammation before tooth movement begins. Existing restorations such as crowns or implants are taken into account during planning, as they behave differently from natural teeth.
Regardless of age, the same applies: orthodontic treatment requires healthy teeth and healthy gums. Before starting, we check the condition of the teeth and, where necessary, treat any existing decay or gum inflammation beforehand. This ensures that the teeth are moved on a stable foundation. At our practice in Weißenfels, we care for both younger and adult patients, and tailor the treatment route individually.
DURATION & RETENTION
One of the most common questions before orthodontic treatment concerns its duration. A responsible answer can only be given after diagnostics, as treatment time depends on many factors: the extent and type of misalignment, how the tissue responds, age, and – particularly with removable appliances such as aligners – consistent cooperation. Minor corrections can be completed within a few months, while more extensive treatment often extends over one to several years. These ranges are a rough guide only, not a promise for any individual case.
It is important to understand that tooth movement cannot simply be sped up at will. The remodelling of the bone around the tooth root is a biological process that takes its own time. Pressure that is too strong or too fast is counterproductive and can damage the periodontal support structures. Calm, continuous movement is gentle on the tissue and is therefore part of careful treatment.
Treatment is not yet complete once the planned tooth position has been reached. Teeth have a natural tendency to move back towards their original position after correction. To preserve the result achieved, the active phase is followed by what is known as retention. During this phase, the teeth are stabilised in their new position using retaining devices, while the surrounding tissue adapts to the changed alignment. Retention is not an optional extra, but a fixed part of every orthodontic treatment.
How long, and to what extent, retention is needed depends on the individual case. In many situations it is recommended that the result be secured over a long period, as the tendency of teeth to shift back can, in principle, persist for years. We discuss with you which form of retention suits your situation and check the retainers at regular intervals. This helps keep the result of treatment stable in the long term – provided the retention recommendations are followed.
COSTS & REGION
The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on several factors: the type and extent of the misalignment, the form of treatment chosen – fixed brace or aligners – as well as the expected duration and any additional services. For this reason, no flat-rate price can be given. Before treatment begins, we provide you with a written, easy-to-understand treatment and cost plan listing every item, so you have a clear basis for your decision.
Whether, and to what extent, statutory health insurance contributes to the costs for children and young people depends on the severity of the malocclusion. This is classified using a nationally standardised system, the kieferorthopädische Indikationsgruppen (KIG, orthodontic indication groups). Only after the assessment can it be determined which group a malocclusion falls into and which services are associated with it.
For children and young people with statutory health insurance, insurers cover the cost of medically necessary orthodontic treatment if the misalignment is classified into one of the higher orthodontic indication groups (KIG 3 to 5). Milder misalignments (KIG 1 and 2) are generally not covered by statutory insurance and must then be paid for privately. For treatment covered by statutory insurance, an out-of-pocket share is initially paid upfront by the parents and reimbursed once treatment has been successfully completed. For adults, orthodontic treatment is only covered by statutory insurance in narrowly defined exceptional cases; it therefore usually has to be paid for privately. Additional preferences, such as clear aligners beyond standard care, generally have to be paid for privately. Privately insured patients and those with supplementary insurance are best advised to clarify reimbursement with their insurer in advance, as tariffs vary. We are happy to prepare a treatment and cost plan for you that you can submit before treatment begins – simply get in touch with us on 03443 / 339 65 54.
The Zahnkompetenzzentrum Dr. med. dent. M.Sc. Sandro Strößner in Weißenfels is here for patients from the town and the surrounding area. The practice is easy to reach from towns in the Burgenlandkreis such as Hohenmölsen, Lützen, Teuchern, Naumburg, Zeitz, Bad Dürrenberg and the surrounding communities. Consultation, digital diagnostics, planning and ongoing care all take place at a single site, so your treatment is coordinated across every phase.
If you are considering orthodontic correction, or are unsure which approach is right for you or your child, a personal consultation is the best first step. We look at your situation, answer your questions, and show you the possible treatment paths – factually, clearly, and without time pressure. Please feel free to book an appointment by phone on 03443 339 65 54. We take the time your concerns deserve and support you on the way to well-aligned teeth.
Crooked teeth are not just a matter of appearance. Misalignments make oral hygiene more difficult, encourage tooth decay and periodontitis, put strain on the jaw joint, and can affect speech. Our orthodontic practice in Weißenfels offers the full spectrum of modern orthodontics – for every age group.
Children and adolescents benefit from early diagnosis (eruption problems, crossbite, open bite) and traditional removable and fixed braces. Today, adults predominantly opt for invisible aligners – transparent plastic trays custom-fitted to the position of the teeth, which are barely noticeable.
Dentist · Orthodontics/Aligners
Orthodontic consultations and treatment at the Zahnkompetenzzentrum – from early diagnostics in children through to aligner therapy for adults – are handled by Dr. Lena-Maria Merkle. Planning, intraoral scanning and check-ups take place in Weißenfels; where needed, she liaises directly with our in-house surgery, prophylaxis and paediatric dentistry teams.
The whole team →I was an anxious patient for fifty years. Today, I am no longer one. Not because my anxiety has disappeared, but because this team took it seriously, without ever making a drama out of it.
What convinced me was the absence of marketing. No promises. Just planning, explanation, execution. I had eight implants placed and didn't even feel like I'd made a difficult decision.
At the Zahnkompetenzzentrum
Dentist in Weißenfels, Special Focus on Implantology
Your Local Practice
Recognised beyond the region
All Services at a Glance
Aligners and Dental Splints
Dentists and Prophylaxis Team
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