Invisible braces
Invisible braces are fixed braces that are hard to see, either bonded behind the teeth where they are hidden from view, or tooth-coloured brackets on the front. Unlike aligners, they stay in all the time.
Draft, awaiting review by Dr. Swapnil B. Patil, BDS
Two ways to hide a brace
The first is to move the brace out of sight. Lingual braces are bonded to the back surfaces of the teeth, facing the tongue, so nothing shows when you talk or smile. Each bracket is made to fit its tooth, which is part of why they cost more.
The second is to make the brace blend in. Tooth-coloured brackets sit on the front of the teeth like ordinary braces but in a ceramic that matches the enamel, often with a pale wire. They are noticeable up close but not from across a room, and they are simpler to clean and adjust than lingual braces.
Fixed, not removable
Both stay on the teeth for the whole treatment. That is their advantage over clear aligners: they keep working whether or not you remember them. It is also the trade-off, since cleaning around fixed brackets takes more care.
After treatment
As with any braces, retainers keep the teeth in their new positions. A thin wire bonded behind the front teeth is a common choice, as invisible as the braces were.
It may suit you if
- You want fixed braces but do not want them to show
- Your teeth need movements that aligners handle less well
- You would rather not depend on remembering to wear removable aligners
- Adults whose work or life makes visible braces unwelcome
Suitability is confirmed at your examination, never from a web page.
If you would rather wait
Like all straightening for appearance, this can wait. Waiting does not usually make the treatment harder, unless crowding is causing cleaning problems or the bite is wearing the teeth, in which case an assessment sooner is wise.
Step by step
What happens at each stage, and roughly how long it takes. Your own timings are set out in your written plan.
Step 1: Assessment
An examination, X-rays, photographs and scans or impressions show how the teeth need to move and which type of hidden brace suits them.
Step 2: Choosing the type
Braces behind the teeth (lingual) are invisible from the front. Tooth-coloured brackets on the front are far less noticeable than metal and simpler to clean and adjust.
The two differ in comfort, speech and cost. We explain each for your case.
Step 3: Making the braces
Lingual brackets are custom-made to fit the back of each tooth, which takes some weeks after the records are taken.
Step 4: Fitting
The brackets are bonded and the wire is placed. Fitting lingual braces takes longer than ordinary braces, around a couple of hours.
Step 5: Adjustments and retainers
The wire is adjusted at regular checks until the teeth are in place. Then the braces come off and retainers keep the result.
What the cost covers
Cost rangeOn request. Ask on WhatsApp for the Invisible braces price range
Included
- The assessment and records
- The braces, made and fitted
- Adjustment visits during treatment
Sometimes needed, at extra cost
- Retainers at the end
- Removing teeth to make room, when the plan needs it
- Cleaning or fillings before the braces go on
Anything extra is explained, with its cost, before it is done.
Risks and recovery
Every treatment carries some risk. These are the ones to know about, and what is normal while you heal.
- Braces behind the teeth crowd the tongue at first. Speech often sounds different, with a slight lisp, for the first weeks.
- The tongue and cheeks can be sore while they adjust. Wax over the brackets helps.
- Hidden braces are harder to clean around, and plaque left there causes decay.
- A very deep bite can press on lingual brackets and loosen them. Your assessment checks for this.
- Teeth drift back if retainers are not worn.
Have it at our Wakad clinic
Wakad
Prime City Center, A-6 & B-3, Datta Mandir Road, Shankar Kalat Nagar, Wakad, Pune 411057
Hinjewadi
Our second clinic
Office 102, Adora Commercial Wing, Bhumkar Chowk to Laxmi Chowk Road, Hinjawadi, Pune 411057
What patients say
Read all reviews4.9out of 5
From 578 Google reviews across both clinics, counted in October 2026.
Questions people ask
Not here? Ask us directly. We reply during clinic hours, till 9 pm.
Ask on WhatsAppHow are these different from aligners?
Invisible braces are fixed, so they work around the clock without you having to remember them. Aligners are removable trays that only work while worn. Both are hard to see.
Will braces behind the teeth affect my speech?
For the first few weeks, usually a little. Most people adapt as the tongue gets used to them.
Do they cost more than ordinary braces?
Usually, yes, because lingual brackets are custom-made. Tooth-coloured brackets on the front cost less than lingual braces. Sometimes hidden braces are used on the upper teeth only, which reduces the cost.
How long does treatment take?
About the same as ordinary braces, commonly one to three years depending on how much the teeth need to move.
Related treatments
Clear aligners
Clear aligners are a series of thin, removable plastic trays, each shaped to move your teeth a little further. You change to the next set every week or two until the teeth reach their planned position.
Braces and orthodontic treatment
Braces move teeth into better positions with small brackets joined by a wire that is adjusted every few weeks. They correct crowding, gaps and bite problems, for teenagers and adults alike.
Smile makeover
A smile makeover brings several treatments, such as whitening, aligners, veneers, crowns or implants, into one plan, in an order where each step sets up the next.
Questions before you decide?
Call or message us, or ask for a time. We reply during clinic hours, till 9 pm.