01 Lingual Braces
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Periodontist & Implantologist
Lingual braces use brackets attached to the back, tongue-facing side of each tooth rather than the front, making them completely hidden when you smile or talk, while working on the same archwire principle as any fixed braces.
At Clarus Dental Specialities in Koregaon Park, lingual braces are planned and monitored directly by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Patients usually choose this for: zero visible brackets public-facing or on-camera roles moderate to complex corrections wanting a fixed, not removable, option
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Quick answer: Lingual braces use brackets attached to the back, tongue-facing surface of each tooth, rather than the front, making them completely invisible from outside the mouth while working on the same bracket-and-archwire principle as traditional braces. In Koregaon Park, Pune, lingual braces are planned and monitored by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, a US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Before You Book
But if you want treatment backed by science and done by a US Board Certified Specialist, you're in the right chair.
02 Overview
Lingual braces work the same way as any fixed braces treatment: brackets connect to an archwire that applies steady pressure, gradually moving teeth into alignment. What's different is placement, on the tongue-side surface of each tooth instead of the front, so nothing is visible when you smile or talk.
Because the back surface of teeth varies more in shape than the front, lingual brackets are typically custom-fabricated for each tooth from a digital scan, rather than using a standard off-the-shelf shape.
This placement brings a genuine trade-off: the tongue is in much closer, more constant contact with lingual brackets than the lips are with front-mounted brackets, which affects the adjustment period more noticeably.
03 Candidacy
Lingual braces suit a similar range of corrections as other fixed braces, the key differentiator is tolerance for the placement itself.
04 Background
Complete invisibility comes at a real cost worth understanding upfront. Because lingual brackets sit where the tongue rests almost constantly, most patients notice a more pronounced adjustment period than with front-mounted braces, particularly affecting certain sounds like "s" and "th" for the first few weeks.
Cleaning the back tooth surfaces is also less visible day to day than the front, which asks a bit more diligence to keep well maintained. Custom fabrication, needed because tongue-side tooth shapes vary more than front surfaces, also typically makes lingual braces the more expensive bracket option.
05 Options
A few variations exist within lingual braces, matched to case and budget.
Brackets individually fabricated to match the exact shape of each tooth's tongue-side surface, from a digital scan.
A more standardised bracket shape adapted to the tongue-side surface, at a lower cost than fully custom fabrication.
Lingual brackets on specific segments combined with another discreet option elsewhere, in select cases.
06 Procedure
A detailed scan of the tongue-side tooth surfaces is taken to plan custom bracket fabrication.
Brackets are individually made to fit each tooth's tongue-side shape, based on the scan.
Custom brackets are bonded to the back of each tooth and connected with the archwire.
Wires are tightened or changed at regular intervals to continue guiding movement.
Once alignment is achieved, brackets are removed and a retainer maintains the new position.
07 Cost Factors
Cost depends on case complexity and the level of bracket customisation. It's discussed only after examination, once the following are known:
A specific estimate is only meaningful after a clinical evaluation. This section is informational and is not a quotation.
If a specific bracket type has already been recommended elsewhere, Dr. Neel is available to review your case and discuss whether lingual braces suit you.
08 Aftercare
Tongue irritation and a noticeable change in speech, particularly certain sounds, is common and typically eases within one to two weeks.
Extra care and attention are needed to keep the back tooth surfaces clean, since they're harder to see directly.
Hard and sticky foods are avoided, since they can still damage brackets or wires.
A retainer is worn as directed to hold the new tooth positions in place.
09 Limits
Being upfront about the trade-offs matters:
10 Your Visit
The first appointment includes an examination and digital scan to assess your bite, alignment, and tongue-side tooth surfaces, followed by a discussion of whether lingual braces fit your case, priorities, and tolerance for the adjustment period.
11 Why This Clinic
BDS (Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai) · Postgraduate periodontology training, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA · Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology (2008) · ITI Fellow, International Team for Implantology (2009)
Fitting brackets behind the teeth calls for close attention to the gumline, which is where Dr. Neel's background as Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist, and one of only two in India, matters most.
Moving teeth through healthy gum and bone tissue is confirmed before treatment starts.
The speech and hygiene demands of lingual placement are explained clearly upfront.
Metal, ceramic, self-ligating, and lingual braces, plus clear aligners, under one roof.
The only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai.
Patients can also read independent reviews on Google and Practo.
12 Visit Us
This dentist and dental clinic in Koregaon Park also treats patients from nearby areas of Pune. See the full Koregaon Park clinic page →
13 International Patients
Clarus Dental Specialities is the only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai, and Dr. Neel holds a dual US-India dental license, giving NRI and overseas patients confidence in the standard of orthodontic care available here.
Because lingual braces involve a custom fabrication step upfront, it's worth planning bonding around a visit with enough time for the scan-to-fabrication process, discussed honestly at your first consultation.
14 FAQ
Yes, since brackets are attached to the back of each tooth, nothing is visible from the front when you smile or talk.
Yes, more noticeably than front-mounted braces, since the tongue is in close, constant contact with the brackets. Most patients adjust within one to two weeks.
Generally yes, custom fabrication of brackets to fit the tongue-side tooth surfaces typically makes lingual braces the most expensive bracket option.
Most patients notice speech and tongue comfort improving within one to two weeks as they adapt to the brackets.
They require more deliberate care, since the back tooth surfaces are harder to see directly than the front, but they can be kept just as clean with attention.
Yes, they work on the same principle as other fixed braces and suit a similar range of corrections, including moderate to complex cases.
Lingual braces are fixed brackets hidden behind the teeth. Clear aligners are removable trays worn over the teeth. Both aim for a discreet appearance through different approaches.
1. Clinical literature on lingual orthodontic appliances and outcomes, indexed on PubMed Central. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
2. Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar's peer-reviewed publications, indexed on PubMed. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Call or WhatsApp the clinic directly to ask questions or set up an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar.
This page provides general dental information and does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment plan, or medical advice. Outcomes vary by individual case. No specific results, costs, or timelines are guaranteed. Please consult Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar or a qualified specialist for advice specific to your condition.
