If you’ve found yourself researching lingual braces for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions. One of the most important is likely to be ‘how much do lingual braces cost?’.

Unfortunately we can’t give you an exact answer, because every patient is unique and every orthodontist has their own pricing structure. But what we can do is provide you with a guide to the average cost of lingual braces in the UK, and help you to understand what contributes towards the price of your treatment.

Free consultations

Many, but not all, orthodontists will offer a complimentary consultation. This is a great way to find out more about lingual braces and receive a personalised quote.

Some orthodontists will charge for this initial appointment, so it’s worth finding out what’s included and whether the cost can be redeemed against your treatment.

Average cost of lingual braces

The cost of lingual braces can vary hugely and will depend on many things including how complex your case is and which teeth are being moved. In some cases your orthodontist will only need to treat one arch, or perhaps even just your front teeth.

For simple cases, lingual orthodontic treatment can start from around £2,000–£3,000. For more complex cases fees typically start from approximately £6,000, ranging up to around £10,000. Most orthodontists will offer finance arrangements, so you can spread out the cost of your braces.

You might also be able to combine different appliances to reduce the cost of your treatment. For example, lingual braces on your top arch and traditional braces on your bottom teeth.

Why are lingual braces so expensive?

You might be wondering why braces, and in particular lingual braces, cost so much. They are undoubtedly a big investment, but we think they offer excellent value.

Here are just some of the factors that influence the cost of your braces.

Training

Specialist orthodontists have undergone eight years of full-time study – first training to be a general dentist, and then spending three years training to be an orthodontist.

Cost of materials

Unlike most traditional brackets, lingual brackets are often custom made to fit your teeth using CAD/CAM technology. Some lingual braces are also made from gold alloy, as opposed to stainless steel or titanium. Both of these factors can lead to higher lab fees for your orthodontist, which will be incorporated into the cost of your treatment.

Cost of equipment

Your orthodontist will need to invest in specialist tools and equipment in order to provide lingual braces. This could include CAD/CAM software, digital scanning equipment and dedicated lingual instruments.

Longer appointments

Lingual orthodontics takes a great degree skill and working on the inside of the teeth can be more challenging – not least from an accessibility point of view! This means appointments are slightly longer than for traditional labial braces.

After care

Quite often your care won’t stop when your braces come off, and most orthodontists will incorporate after care into the cost of your treatment. This could include fixed and/or removable retainers and a period of supervision. This part of your treatment is critical for ensuring good long-term results.

To take the next step and find out how much you can expect to pay for your lingual braces, get in touch with your local BLOS member to arrange an initial consultation.