For many adults, deciding between Invisalign and traditional braces isn’t difficult at all. Anyone who dreads metal brackets is likely going to choose discreet clear aligners. But braces have come a long way in the past couple of decades. Dentists now have innovative new materials and applications that drastically reduce braces’ visibility.
For example, lingual braces still use brackets and wires, but they’re situated behind your teeth, out of public view. Lingual braces have become a popular choice because they’re more discreet without sacrificing any teeth-straightening power. But these two treatments require completely different products and procedures, and you’ll want to research both thoroughly before choosing one. Fortunately, we have everything you need to make an informed decision right here.
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Invisalign vs. Lingual Braces: Treatment Overviews
Dentists have been using brace-like appliances to shift teeth since the 1800s, although it wasn’t until the early 20th century that our modern idea of braces became more prevalent. For decades, metal braces were the go-to option for straightening teeth, and today they remain a highly popular treatment.
Over the years, orthodontists have sought ways to make braces more comfortable and better looking, and developed the first lingual braces in the 70s. These function just like standard braces, but they’re situated behind the teeth, making them much less visible. Since their introduction, lingual braces have developed into a safe, discreet option offered by numerous orthodontists.
Over two decades ago, a company called Align Technology developed the first clear aligner series, Invisalign, which commanded the clear aligner market for nearly ten years. They quickly implemented an ambitious marketing campaign, partnered with dentists and orthodontists across the country, and had transformed 175,000 smiles by 2004. Today, Invisalign maintains its position atop the clear aligner industry. They partner with 100,000 dentists in 90 countries and have treated over 15 million patients.
Scope of Treatment Comparison
One of the first and most important questions to ask when choosing a teeth-straightening treatment is, can it correct my misalignment? As in-office treatments, both Invisalign and lingual braces can work for a wide scope of conditions, so they’re both viable options for many people.
Invisalign Scope of Treatment
Lingual Braces Scope of Treatment
- Treats all classes of malocclusions, including many skeletal components.
- Can move all the teeth, including the molars.
- Usually requires in-person check-ins every 4–10 weeks.
- Uses a patented plastic called SmartTrack in their aligners.
- Treats all classes of malocclusions, including many skeletal components.
- Can move all the teeth, including the molars.
- Usually requires in-person check-ins every 4–10 weeks.
- Uses metal brackets that are sturdier and more durable than aligners.
- Braces are affixed to your teeth, so you won’t have to remember to put them in.
What Invisalign and Lingual Braces Can Treat
According to Invisalign, their aligners have “demonstrated success in treating Class I, II, and III malocclusions,” including:
Invisalign can incorporate the company’s SmartForce attachments — which can improve the aligners’ control and range of tooth movement, according to this 2023 study. Plus, they can move all the teeth, including molars, and expand the arch, though skeletal expansion usually requires additional appliances.
According to many providers, lingual braces can treat a similar range of misalignments. In fact, they might even work better than Invisalign for certain bite issues. If you have a deep overbite or a crowding that causes your teeth to overlap significantly, however, your orthodontist might recommend traditional braces instead.
Quality of Materials
Invisalign uses a patented multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane/copolyester blend plastic called SmartTrack in their aligners. They claim that it has better tooth control and more predictable movements than some other plastics. This study also showed that patients typically rate it favorably, specifically in terms of comfort.
Like traditional braces, lingual braces are metal. This might be slightly less comfortable in your mouth, but it also makes them sturdier and more durable (in most cases) than aligners.
Oversight
With either treatment, you’ll likely need to visit your dentist or orthodontist every 4–10 weeks. They’ll use these appointments to check your progress, provide new aligners, or tighten your braces. Plus, they can examine your teeth and address any potential issues before they worsen.
Consistency
Like it or not, lingual braces will always be in your mouth. The brackets are affixed to your teeth, so they won’t move until the orthodontist says so. Invisalign’s clear aligners, on the other hand, are removable. Invisalign recommends wearing your aligners for at least 22 hours per day, only removing them to eat, drink, or brush.
While potentially more convenient, this also leaves more room for user error. You might, for example, remove your aligners and forget to put them back in, or potentially lose them. The permanence of braces can help your teeth move evenly and consistently.
Affordability Comparison
It’s no secret that orthodontic treatment is expensive. Just glancing over some of the average costs might have you checking your bank account and adjusting your monthly budget. There’s simply no getting around the fact that Invisalign and lingual braces are pricey. But the good news is that there are ways to make them more affordable. So, if your condition requires an in-office treatment, or you’re just more comfortable going into the office, it’s important to consult your dentist/orthodontist and explore your options.
While the prices for each treatment can vary significantly depending on your condition, Invisalign is generally more affordable.
Invisalign Affordability
Lingual Braces Affordability
- No set sticker price, the average cost is $3,000–$8,000.
- Aftercare retainers cost anywhere from $100–$300, depending on the dentist.
- Financing varies depending on the dentists, may require a credit check or down payment.
- No set sticker price, the average cost is $5,000–10,000.
- Aftercare retainers cost anywhere from $100–$300, depending on the dentist.
- Financing varies depending on the dentists, may require a credit check or down payment.
Sticker Price
The exact cost of your treatment will depend largely on your specific dentist or orthodontist, and the severity of your condition. More severe conditions simply take more time and effort to correct. Even so, if we look at the averages, Invisalign is usually more affordable than lingual braces.
On average, Invisalign runs between $3,000 and $8,000. That’s certainly not pocket change, but it’s still slightly less expensive than lingual braces, which may cost $5,000–$10,000.
Will Insurance Cover It?
The short answer: maybe. Some insurance plans provide orthodontic coverage, but others do not. Even if your insurer covers your Invisalign or lingual braces treatment, it will likely only be for part of the cost. Still, partial coverage can make the price much more reasonable. Before committing to a particular treatment, contact your insurance provider to see how much (if any) coverage you’ll receive.
Is Financing Available?
Don’t have thousands of dollars lying around? You’re not alone. That’s why many dentists and orthodontists provide financing options for their patients, but it varies from office to office. Ask your dentist about their payment plan options to see what might be available.
There are also third-party companies that provide financing for orthodontic treatments. However, many of these require a credit check to qualify, and they often have high interest rates, so you could end up paying a lot more in the long run.
Convenience Comparison
Companies today are finding new ways to make everything more convenient, from grocery shopping to transportation to medical treatments. Why? Because adults have busy lives. As you consider your schedule and to-do list, you might be hoping for an orthodontic treatment that won’t eat into the precious free time you have. Both Invisalign and lingual braces require a larger time commitment than newer fully remote treatment options like SmileDirectClub, but the time you invest can help the treatment progress smoothly.
Invisalign Convenience
Lingual Braces Convenience
- Requires in-person consultation with a dentist or orthodontist to get started, including X-rays and photos.
- Treatment typically takes around 12–18 months.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- You should remove your aligners every time you eat or drink.
- You must wear your aligners 22+ hours per day.
- Requires In-person consultation with an orthodontist to get started, including X-rays and photos.
- Average treatment time can be anywhere from 12 to 24 months.
- Placed behind the teeth, so wires and brackets can irritate the tongue and gums.
- Cleaning can be a challenge, since it might be difficult to see some areas where plaque and food can build up.
Treatment Time
If you have a particular date circled on the calendar, one where you plan to show off your dazzling new smile, you probably want to know if your treatment will wrap up in time.
Unfortunately, you can’t control your treatment time. It depends entirely on the complexity of your condition, since severe misalignments take longer to correct than mild ones. That said, both Invisalign and lingual braces can take 12–24 months.
Comfort
As we mentioned in the “Scope of Treatment” section, lingual braces are affixed to your teeth, so they aren’t removable. Given that they’re placed behind your teeth, the braces and wires can irritate the tongue and gums, especially at the beginning of treatment. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about removing and replacing them every time you eat or drink. Invisalign’s aligners are removable, but they can also cause discomfort at the beginning of each new aligner set.
The silver lining here is that, in most cases, the discomfort in either treatment decreases as your mouth gets acquainted.
Cleaning
As you might imagine, wearing braces or aligners can make it slightly more cumbersome to keep your teeth clean. For example, you need to remove your aligners every time you eat or drink anything other than water, then brush and floss before replacing them. You don’t want any food stuck under your aligners to affect the way your teeth move or cause decay. The ability to remove your aligners makes it easier to keep your teeth clean, but it also means that you may have to do so more often.
Because they’re affixed to your teeth, lingual braces can also present cleaning difficulties. They’re harder to see and reach with your toothbrush. And, like traditional braces, you’ll need to get at them from every angle to prevent plaque buildup in those hard-to-reach areas. Plus, you’ll probably want to avoid foods that are especially crunchy, chewy, or sticky. With either one of these treatments, you’ll need to dedicate just a bit more of your time each day to dental hygiene.
Appearance Comparison
Think of all the places you’ll be wearing your aligners or braces — work, home, restaurants, public transportation, dates, family gatherings. Just about everywhere. If you’re worried about people noticing them, you likely want the most discreet option available. Fortunately, Invisalign and lingual braces are both fairly inconspicuous. But again, they’re very different treatments, so they each present different looks and styles.
Invisalign Appearance
Lingual Braces Appearance
- Uses a frosted, textured plastic.
- Scallops their aligners to match your gum line.
- You can remove them for brief periods.
- Only visible from certain angles, otherwise they’re very hidden and discreet.
- “Incognito” option is even more discreet and 100% customized to your teeth.
- They’re affixed to your teeth, so you can’t remove them.
Invisalign makes their aligners from a frosted, textured plastic that we think accurately mimics the natural, porous surface of your teeth. In our opinion, they’re hardly noticeable in everyday settings and are typically only visible in close quarters. And if there’s an unexpected photo opportunity, remember: you can always remove them for a few minutes.
Situated behind your teeth, lingual braces are only visible from certain angles. Most of the time, people will only see the fronts of your teeth and have no idea there are brackets back there. The ability of these brackets to stay hidden also somewhat depends on the type you get. Standard lingual braces use similar brackets to traditional braces, while “incognito” lingual braces (developed by 3M), are 100% custom to your teeth and can be even more discreet (but also more expensive).
Patient Experience Comparison
Beginning clear aligner treatment is like starting a new relationship. It takes commitment, but in the end, it’s rewarding. Also like a healthy relationship, it requires communication, care, problem-solving, and more. You want a treatment that can facilitate a great patient experience, one with responsive customer service that goes the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction and won’t leave you hanging.
Because they’re each administered directly through your dentist or orthodontist’s office, the support you’ll get for Invisalign and lingual braces depends on the doctor you choose. However, we think that in-person care typically provides a high level of attentiveness, support, and reliability.
Communication
With either treatment option, you can direct any questions, concerns, etc. to your dentist or orthodontist’s office. This gives you a responsive point of contact that knows you and your teeth personally. That said, it’s a good idea to check with your dentist’s office for their availability and communication channels to know the best ways to reach them.
Oversight
Lingual braces and Invisalign both require you to visit the dentist or orthodontist’s office once every 4–10 weeks on average. During these visits, the dentist or orthodontist can evaluate your progress and adjust your treatment as necessary. Scheduling and attending these appointments might be inconvenient, but it’s nice to have face time with a professional who can answer questions about your specific case.
Since lingual braces can take longer to transform your smile, you might end up making more of these office visits in the long run.
Refinements and Adjustments
You might get to the end of your aligner plan and still not have your ideal smile. In this case, the dentist would need to rescan your teeth and create a new set of aligners. You wouldn’t have to pay for them, but you’d be in a holding pattern until they arrive. Since lingual braces are stuck to your teeth, the orthodontist simply won’t remove them until they’ve moved your teeth to the desired positions.
And they can adjust them on the spot if any issues arise. Both treatments will make sure you get the smile you want, but the refinement/adjustment process can be a bit more complicated with Invisalign.
Which Should You Choose?
Once again, we think both are high-quality teeth-straightening options. Neither one is clearly or inherently better than the other. They both offer powerful, barely visible treatments that benefit from a dentist or orthodontist’s direct oversight. So, your decision should be based on your unique condition, goals, and expectations.
Who Should Choose Invisalign?
If you like the idea of being able to remove your aligners, or are concerned about the discomfort associated with braces, Invisalign might be a better option for you. Not to mention, Invisalign is typically much more affordable than lingual braces.
Who Should Choose Lingual Braces?
Not confident that you can adhere to Invisalign’s 22 hours per day wear schedule? Lingual braces will stay on 24/7, so you won’t have to worry about removing and replacing them multiple times a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Invisalign or lingual braces?
They’re two entirely different treatments, so it really depends on your priorities. If you like the sturdiness and consistent power that braces provide, lingual braces could be a more discreet option. But if you want the ability to remove and replace your treatment, Invisalign’s clear aligners might be better for you.
On average, lingual braces cost more than Invisalign, so keep that in mind if you’re on a budget. See our full guide on lingual braces and our Invisalign review for a lot more info.
How do I get started with Invisalign or Iingual braces?
Your first and only step is to visit your dentist or orthodontist. They will assess your teeth and provide recommendations for your next steps. If you choose Invisalign, they’ll also make teeth impressions or take 3D scans to design your aligners. An important note: Invisalign can be administered by general dentists, but braces require an orthodontist.
How much do Invisalign and lingual braces cost?
Both treatments can be fairly pricey, and both depend on a variety of factors, like your condition severity, your orthodontist’s rates, insurance, and more. Invisalign typically runs between $3,000 and $8,000, and lingual braces often cost $5,000–$10,000.
What conditions can Invisalign and lingual braces treat?
Either treatment can correct just about any condition out there. Crowding, spacing, underbite, overbite — no problem. Their constant oversight and supplemental attachments allow them to make powerful and intricate teeth movements.
What other options should I consider?
Invisalign and lingual braces are both excellent options, especially if you’re looking for comprehensive treatment to correct a severe case of misalignment or complex bite issue. However, if your case is milder and more straightforward, there are many more affordable clear aligners worth considering. To learn about all your options and how they compare, visit our review of the five best clear aligners.
Does insurance cover clear aligners?
If your insurance plan has orthodontic benefits, there’s a good chance you’ll receive some type of coverage. The only way to know for sure is by contacting your insurance provider to find out.
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you switch to a new aligner set every two weeks, you might experience some discomfort for the first day or two, but after that, you’ll hardly notice them.
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