If you’re seeking a straighter smile, you’re in luck: there are more options than ever before to straighten your teeth. From clear aligners to veneers, the modern orthodontic landscape offers something to meet everyone’s needs.
But braces have remained a tried-and-true treatment option, and for good reason: they’re still the best way to treat complex dental conditions. And thanks to modern innovations, even braces have evolved to become more effective and discreet. In this guide, we’ll compare traditional and lingual braces to help you decide if either treatment option could be the right fit for you.
Table of Contents
Traditional Braces vs. Lingual Braces: Treatment Overviews
Say “braces” and most people picture a smile full of metal brackets—also known as traditional braces. Traditional braces are an extremely effective treatment, capable of transforming even the most severe teeth and jaw misalignments. Though they’re not the only braces option available.
Lingual braces entered the orthodontic scene in the 1970s. They function just like traditional braces, except they are placed behind your teeth instead of in front. This makes lingual braces much more discreet while treating many of the same conditions as traditional braces.
Each of these braces options has unique advantages and disadvantages. Read on to learn more about each one and get a sense of which one could be a viable option for you.
Effectiveness Comparison
When it comes down to it, the biggest question surrounding any treatment is: can it deliver the smile you’ve always wanted? The good news is both traditional and lingual braces are incredibly effective options.
Traditional Braces
Lingual Braces
- Can tackle even the most severe cases of misalignment
- Must avoid certain foods during treatment to prevent damage to metal brackets and wires
- Applies constant pressure since this treatment is attached to your teeth
- Aren’t quite as effective in correcting deep overbite, but can handle any other condition
- Must avoid certain foods during treatment to prevent damage to metal brackets and wires
- Applies constant pressure since this treatment is attached to your teeth
What Can It Treat?
Traditional braces can address any condition you throw at them, whether it’s crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, or even a severe case of open bite.
Lingual braces are also an extremely effective treatment option, and they can treat nearly any condition that traditional braces can. Deep overbite is the only condition they can’t treat quite as effectively, as a deep overbite can create too much pressure for lingual braces to handle.
Materials
Both traditional and lingual braces are made of metal. Though metal is a durable and sturdy material, foods like popcorn, caramel, gum, and hard candy can damage or break your brackets, potentially adding delays and cost to your overall treatment.
Consistency
Both traditional and lingual braces are affixed to your teeth, which provides the constant pressure necessary to gradually shift your teeth. Treatments like clear aligners are removable, which introduces human error into this equation. But you’ll never forget to wear your braces because they’re always on.
Affordability Comparison
Orthodontic treatment is expensive, and it can be intimidating to look at the average prices. However, there are usually ways to make treatment more affordable. Talk with your orthodontist about which financing options might be available.
Though treatment prices depend on your particular condition, traditional braces are typically more affordable than lingual braces.
Traditional Braces
Lingual Braces
- No set sticker price, the average cost is $5,000-$7,000
- Insurance might contribute. Check with your provider
- Financing options vary, and third-party financing often requires a credit check
- No set sticker price, the average cost is $8,000-$10,000
- Insurance might contribute. Check with your provider
- Financing options vary, and third-party financing often requires a credit check
Sticker Price
No form of braces treatment has one set sticker price. However, traditional braces are usually more affordable than lingual braces. They average between $5,000 and $7,000, while lingual braces average between $8,000 and $10,000.
Lingual braces require a more precise application, which takes more of your orthodontist’s time—hence the higher price tag. If you want even more discretion with your lingual braces treatment, you can get your brackets and wire customized to the contours of your mouth. These are called “incognito” braces, and they’re slightly more expensive.
Will Insurance Cover It?
Your orthodontic insurance plan may cover your treatment in some capacity. Check with your insurance provider to see if there are any in-network orthodontists—and be sure to ask if their coverage is full or partial.
Is Financing Available?
Since each treatment is administered by individual orthodontists at their individual practices, braces don’t have one singular financing option. Many offices offer payment plans, so be sure to ask what your options are.
Orthodontic treatments can also be covered by third-party options, like CareCredit or beWell. You’ll often need to pass a credit check to qualify for these plans, so they’re not an option that works for everyone.
Convenience Comparison
Orthodontic treatment isn’t just a financial commitment, it’s also a major time commitment. People are busy, and want to find ways to make their treatment as convenient as possible.
Both traditional and lingual braces require a significant amount of your time. They take longer overall, and require regular appointments throughout treatment. This provides a great deal of oversight, but it’s also another item on your to-do list.
Traditional Braces
Lingual Braces
- Average treatment time is 24 months
- Brushing and flossing around the brackets and wires will take more time
- Metal brackets and wires can cause some discomfort
- Average treatment times 12-24 months
- Brushing and flossing around the brackets will take more time, particularly since they’re harder to see on the back of your teeth
- Since brackets and wires are behind the teeth, this can cause more discomfort than traditional braces
Treatment Time
Traditional braces have an average treatment time of 24 months, and lingual braces average between 12-24 months. Lingual braces can boast slightly shorter treatment times since this treatment offers more customization. However, your overall treatment time ultimately depends on the severity of your condition.
During treatment, you’ll need regular orthodontist appointments (typically every 4-8 weeks) for both traditional and lingual braces.
Comfort
It takes some time to grow accustomed to braces’ metal brackets. However, since lingual braces are affixed to the back of your teeth instead of the front, the brackets can cause more discomfort for your tongue.
Cleaning
Any type of braces will make your oral hygiene routine more complicated. Brackets and wires provide plenty of places for plaque to hide, so you’ll need to put extra time and attention towards maintaining a healthy mouth.
That being said, since lingual braces are mostly out of your sight, they’re harder to keep clean. Even though it’s complicated, it’s important to prioritize your oral hygiene during treatment—to prevent any tooth or gum issues.
Appearance Comparison
Many people seek out orthodontic treatment to get a smile that makes them feel their best. If appearance post-treatment is on your mind, it stands to reason you’re thinking about aesthetics during treatment as well.
Appearance is the category in which traditional and lingual braces really differ—lingual braces are inconspicuous and traditional braces are pretty visible.
Traditional Braces
Lingual Braces
- Highly visible, no real discretion
- Choosing different colored bands can be an opportunity for creative self-expression
- Discoloration is likelier than other treatments
- Can only be seen from certain angles
- Can be customized to the contours of your teeth with the “incognito” option
- Brackets are behind the teeth, so visible discoloration from treatment is less likely
For many people, orthodontia is something they’d prefer to accomplish discreetly, and traditional braces don’t really allow for that. With the option of colorful bands around your brackets, they provide room for self-expression—just not a low profile.
Lingual braces are the most discreet form of braces available. Since these brackets are only visible from certain angles, people will hardly ever notice them. Lingual braces can be made even more discreet with an option called “incognito,” which are fully customized to the contours of your teeth.
Sometimes patients notice spots of discoloration after their braces come off. If your teeth get stained during traditional braces treatment, after they’re removed, there will be a contrast between the exposed and unexposed parts of your teeth. With lingual braces, you don’t run the risk of a visible two-toned effect, since the brackets are on the back of your teeth.
Patient Experience Comparison
Both traditional and lingual braces are administered and monitored by orthodontists. This expert, hands-on care provides a high level of oversight and support throughout your treatment.
Oversight
Regular appointments throughout your treatment give you plenty of facetime with your orthodontist. During these appointments, you can address any questions or concerns to better understand the treatment process as a whole. Having such attentiveness and support can help make a lengthy treatment less daunting.
Refinements and Adjustments
Teeth can be pretty stubborn sometimes. Since braces are attached to your teeth, if your smile doesn’t progress as quickly as your orthodontist predicted, the recourse is simple: they just stay on a little longer. You might want your treatment to wrap up as soon as possible, but it’s nice to know that with either type of braces, delays won’t require additional scans or impressions—just time.
Which Should You Choose?
Traditional and lingual braces are considered safe, powerful treatments that can give you the smile you’ve always wanted. These time-tested treatments are administered and overseen by experts. Deciding which is best for you primarily comes down to your aesthetic preferences and your budget.
Who Should Choose Traditional Braces?
Traditional braces are best suited for anyone seeking a tried and true orthodontic treatment who doesn’t mind visible brackets and wires. Traditional braces have the advantage over any other orthodontic treatment when it comes to effectiveness. So if you have a severe misalignment like an open bite, braces will be able to align your smile—all at a more affordable price than lingual or other specialty braces.
Who Should Choose Lingual Braces?
Lingual braces are best suited for anyone looking for a more discreet treatment—and is willing to pay a premium price. Lingual braces can be customized to follow the contours of your teeth. Though it adds to the cost, this “incognito” option is arguably the most invisible form of braces treatment available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do braces cause teeth discoloration?
It will be easier to avoid tooth stains on the front of your teeth with lingual braces, since the brackets are behind them. However, if your teeth are developing small white or brown spots during treatment, it’s likely due to a process called demineralization, which is caused by plaque buildup. You probably won’t see these spots with lingual braces, but it’s still important to prevent demineralization.
Will braces affect my speech?
Both traditional and lingual braces may give you a small lisp as your mouth grows accustomed to its new hardware. That being said, it takes more time to get used to lingual braces, since they directly interfere with the tongue. Your lisp will still fade, but it can sometimes take up to a month with lingual braces.
Can lingual braces fix severe cases of misalignment?
Lingual braces can fix most severe cases of misalignment, but can’t always treat severe cases of overbite. If lingual braces can’t treat your condition, traditional braces certainly can.
Are there other discreet forms of teeth straightening treatment?
There are. Clear aligners offer discreet treatment, and are typically much less expensive than lingual braces. You can visit a dentist or orthodontist to get Invisalign treatment, or you can complete treatment entirely remotely with at-home clear aligners.
Are lingual braces uncomfortable?
It takes longer to grow accustomed to lingual braces than other forms of orthodontia because your tongue is exposed to the brackets and wires.
What can I do about braces discomfort?
If the discomfort is due to irritation from the braces materials, then your orthodontist can give you wax to place over the brackets. This wax acts as a barrier between the bracket and your mouth. If the pain is due to the pressure on your teeth, then talk to your orthodontist about taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Why do my teeth feel loose during braces treatment?
It’s natural for teeth to feel loose during treatment, since they’re being disrupted and moved to a new location. This isn’t cause for alarm—if anything, it means your treatment is working.
Are there any ways to make flossing with braces easier?
There are. You can purchase floss threaders, which help you floss behind the archwire, making the task significantly easier. Floss threaders are an inexpensive way to simplify your oral hygiene routine, and the easier you make this routine, the likelier you are to keep it up.
Is fluoride good for my teeth?
Yes! Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can help strengthen your enamel. Tap water often has some amount of fluoride in it, so drink your tap water and be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste to best protect your enamel from tooth decay.
Join The Discussion: