Lingual braces typically cost between $5,000 and $13,000, making them the most expensive orthodontic option available. The wide price range depends on how complex your case is, where you live, and which brand system your orthodontist uses.
How Lingual Braces Compare in Price
To understand what you’re paying for, it helps to see lingual braces in context with other options. Traditional metal braces range from $3,000 to $7,350. Invisalign runs approximately $4,000 to $7,500. Lingual braces sit well above both, averaging $8,000 to $13,000 for most patients. That means you can expect to pay roughly double what you’d spend on conventional braces for a similar case.
The premium exists for a few practical reasons. Each bracket is custom-designed to fit the back surface of your individual teeth, which requires specialized lab fabrication. Placing brackets on the tongue side of the teeth is also more technically demanding and time-consuming than standard placement. Fewer orthodontists offer lingual braces, and those who do have invested in additional training, which gets reflected in their fees.
What Drives the Price Up or Down
Case complexity is the biggest variable. Minor crowding or slight spacing issues sit at the lower end of the range and can sometimes be treated in 6 to 12 months. Severe crowding, significant overbites, or deep bites can push treatment to 24 months or longer, and longer treatment means more adjustment appointments, more wire changes, and a higher total bill.
Geography matters too. Patients in major metros like New York, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C. consistently report higher quotes than those in smaller cities or suburban practices. Some patients in high-cost areas have reported quotes reaching $17,000 or $18,000 for lingual systems, while the same brand in other regions comes in closer to $9,000.
The specific brand system your orthodontist uses also affects pricing. Incognito, one of the most established lingual systems, and newer options like BRIUS each carry different lab fees that get passed along to you. Real-world patient reports show BRIUS costing around $9,000 in states like Maryland, while quotes in certain urban practices run significantly higher for comparable systems.
What’s Usually Included in the Quote
Most orthodontists bundle lingual braces into an all-inclusive treatment fee that covers the initial records and imaging, custom bracket fabrication, placement, all adjustment visits throughout treatment, and bracket removal at the end. Some practices also include the cost of your first set of retainers in that total price, though others charge separately.
Retainers after any braces treatment are not optional if you want your results to last. A permanent bonded retainer typically costs $150 to $500 if it’s not included in your original quote. Ask upfront whether retainers are part of the treatment fee or an additional charge, because this varies widely between practices.
Insurance, HSAs, and Payment Plans
Dental insurance that includes orthodontic benefits for adults exists but isn’t especially common, since braces are often categorized as cosmetic. When coverage does apply, most policies set a lifetime maximum benefit for orthodontics rather than covering a percentage of every visit. That lifetime cap is the same whether you choose metal braces or lingual braces, so a larger share of lingual treatment cost comes out of pocket.
Lingual braces are placed on the back of the teeth rather than the front, but they still use metal brackets and wires. Insurance plans that cover traditional braces generally treat lingual braces as an eligible orthodontic expense, though the reimbursement amount won’t change based on which type you choose. Check your policy’s specific lifetime maximum, because that number determines how much financial help you’ll actually get.
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can both be used for orthodontic treatment, including lingual braces. The American Association of Orthodontists confirms that eligible expenses include initial consultations, braces, retainers, and follow-up care. Only the portion not already covered by dental insurance qualifies as an eligible HSA or FSA expense. Since lingual braces carry a higher price tag, spreading the cost across tax-advantaged accounts over one or two plan years can meaningfully reduce your effective cost.
Most orthodontic practices also offer in-house payment plans, letting you spread the balance across your treatment period with little or no interest. It’s worth comparing these with third-party medical financing, since the terms can differ significantly.
Lingual Braces vs. Clear Aligners
Both lingual braces and clear aligners like Invisalign are nearly invisible during everyday conversation, which is the main appeal of each. But they serve different clinical needs, and the cost gap between them can be substantial.
Clear aligners work well for mild to moderate alignment issues and typically cost $4,000 to $7,500. Lingual braces handle more complex problems that aligners may struggle with: severe crowding, significant bite corrections, and teeth that need substantial rotation. If your case is complex enough to require lingual braces, clear aligners may not be a realistic alternative, which makes the price comparison somewhat academic.
For mild to moderate cases where both options are viable, the cost difference can be $3,000 to $5,000 or more. In those situations, the choice often comes down to whether you prefer the convenience of removable trays (with the discipline to wear them 22 hours a day) or the set-it-and-forget-it nature of fixed brackets that work around the clock without any effort on your part.
Getting an Accurate Estimate
Online price ranges give you a ballpark, but your actual cost depends on your specific teeth. Most orthodontists offer free or low-cost consultations where they’ll examine your bite, take X-rays, and give you a detailed treatment plan with a firm price. Getting quotes from two or three practices in your area is the fastest way to understand what lingual braces will cost for your particular case. Prices between offices in the same city can vary by thousands of dollars for the same level of correction, so comparison shopping is worth the extra appointments.