Dr. Greenberg used Incognito and Harmony lingual braces for years before discontinuing the category. The decision was a patient-safety call: lingual braces manufacturers have repeatedly exited the US market, leaving patients mid-treatment with no replacement parts.
The tongue discomfort, speech impediment, and breakage-related emergencies create a patient experience that modern alternatives have eliminated. This page explains the clinical reasoning and points Jacksonville-area families toward the discreet options Bold Bite does offer.
Lingual braces are orthodontic brackets and wires bonded to the back (lingual, or tongue-side) surfaces of the teeth rather than the front. Because the hardware faces inward, lingual braces are the only truly invisible fixed appliance. Nothing shows when the patient smiles or speaks.
They correct the same conditions as conventional braces: crowding, spacing, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites.
Popular lingual systems include Incognito (by 3M), Harmony, the now-defunct InBrace, and Brava by Brius (the newest entrant). Each uses custom brackets manufactured to fit the contours of each tooth's lingual surface. Treatment typically takes 18–36 months and costs between $7,000 and $13,000 at practices that still offer the category.
Roughly two to three times the cost of every other discreet option.
The decision was not about cost, complexity, or training. Dr. Greenberg stopped offering lingual braces because the patient experience was poor and the long-term reliability of the supply chain could not be guaranteed for families in Jacksonville and the surrounding communities.
Four factors drove the decision. Each observed firsthand over years of lingual orthodontic practice.
Lingual braces companies have repeatedly shut down or left the US market. InBrace is the most recent casualty, patients were left mid-treatment with no replacement parts. Incognito and Harmony have faced their own distribution and availability challenges.
Brava by Brius is the newest entrant, but the fundamental market dynamic remains unchanged: low patient demand makes lingual braces economically fragile for manufacturers. When your custom brackets cannot be replaced, treatment stalls or must restart with a different system entirely.
The tongue is one of the most sensitive structures in the body. Lingual brackets press directly against it during speaking, eating, and swallowing. Research shows lingual braces cause more severe pain and longer recovery than front-facing braces or aligners. Many patients experience a noticeable lisp lasting one month or more.
A published study of 68 adults found lingual braces produced the most severe pain of all braces types.
When a custom lingual bracket breaks or debonds, it cannot be replaced from office stock. It must be reordered from the manufacturer, a process that can take weeks. During that time, treatment progress stops or reverses. With front-facing braces, replacement brackets are readily available in-office for same-day repair.
Lingual braces cost $7,000–$13,000, significantly more than any alternative. The premium reflects custom manufacturing, specialized training, and longer chair time, not better outcomes.
Clear ceramic braces start at $4700 and deliver equivalent discretion at conversation distance. Angel Aligners start at $4500. Typically the lower-cost clear option. And Invisalign starts at $5500.
Exact pricing is confirmed at the consultation after Dr. Greenberg reviews the specific case.
Dr. Greenberg used lingual braces for years with good clinical results. The practice stopped recommending them because the manufacturer risk (brands disappearing mid-case), the materially higher tongue pain patients report, and the weeks of delay that follow any broken bracket added up to a trade no patient should have to accept.
Clear ceramic braces and modern aligners achieve the same discreet result without those risks, which is why Bold Bite Orthodontics now routes discretion-focused patients there instead.
If discretion is your priority, these alternatives deliver comparable or superior invisibility with dramatically lower risk.
| Factor | Lingual Braces | Clear Ceramic Braces | Invisalign / Angel Aligners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 100% hidden (behind teeth) | Translucent, near-invisible at conversation distance | Clear removable trays, nearly invisible |
| Tongue Pain | Severe, constant tongue contact | None, brackets face outward | None, smooth plastic |
| Speech Impact | Lisp lasting 1+ months (research-confirmed) | Minimal, brief adjustment | Minimal, brief adjustment |
| Manufacturer Stability | InBrace shut down; Incognito/Harmony uncertain; Brava newest in same low-demand market | Established brands, no history of market exits | Invisalign (Align Tech) + Angel, stable |
| Bracket Replacement | Custom reorder, weeks of delay | In-office replacement, same day | N/A, trays are replaceable |
| Starting Price | $7,000–$13,000 | From $4700 | Invisalign from $5500 · Angel from $4500 |
| Complex Cases | Effective but limited by access | Full range, same as metal | Mild to moderate preferred |
| Oral Hygiene | Extremely difficult to clean | Moderate, careful brushing needed | Easy, remove trays to brush |
| Offered at Bold Bite | No, discontinued | Yes | Yes |
← Lower Entry · Angel Aligners start at $4500. Less than half the cost of lingual braces, with near-total invisibility and zero tongue discomfort. Compare Invisalign & Angel Aligners →
Patients in Jacksonville who arrived on this page looking for invisible treatment have three strong options at Bold Bite Orthodontics, each discreet in its own way, each backed by manufacturers with no history of market exits, and each priced at roughly half or less of what lingual braces cost. Dr. Greenberg will match the case to the right option during the free consultation.
Transparent brackets that blend with tooth enamel. Self-ligating design means no elastic ties, less staining, and fewer visits. The brackets are the smallest self-ligating ceramics in production. Handles every case lingual braces would have treated, including complex rotations and vertical corrections.
$4700 starting · $0 down
All PPO insurance accepted.
Clear removable trays that are virtually invisible in conversation. No brackets, no wires, no tongue irritation. Trays come out for eating and brushing. Angel Aligners deliver the same clear-tray treatment at a lower entry price than Invisalign at every tier.
$4500 Angel · $5500 Invisalign · $0 down
Free braces-switch guarantee.
For patients whose main driver is cost rather than discretion, modern metal brackets are smaller, rounder, and more comfortable than the metal braces of a decade ago. Full case control, same-day bracket replacement when needed, and the shortest path to predictable results for complex crowding or bite correction.
$4500 starting · $0 down
Lowest entry price of any fixed option.
Dr. Greenberg used Incognito and Harmony lingual systems for years before discontinuing them. The decision was based on three factors: (1) Company instability, lingual braces manufacturers have repeatedly shut down or left the US market, leaving patients stranded mid-treatment. InBrace is the most recent example.
(2) Patient experience. Lingual brackets cause significantly more tongue pain, speech impediment, and eating difficulty than any other braces type. (3) Breakage risk, when custom lingual brackets break, they must be reordered from the manufacturer, delaying treatment by weeks.
Modern clear ceramic braces and clear aligners now achieve the same discreet appearance without these risks.
Two alternatives provide comparable or superior discretion: (1) Clear self-ligating ceramic braces. Translucent brackets starting at $4700, with no compliance requirement. (2) Invisalign or Angel Aligners, removable clear trays starting at $4500.
Both avoid the tongue pain, speech issues, and manufacturer instability risks of lingual braces.
Lingual braces typically cost $7,000–$13,000, significantly more than any other orthodontic treatment. For comparison at Bold Bite: clear ceramic braces start at $4700, metal braces at $4500, Angel Aligners at $4500, and Invisalign at $5500.
The premium on lingual braces reflects custom manufacturing and longer chair time, not better outcomes. Use our cost calculator to see exact pricing for alternatives.
Yes. Research published in peer-reviewed journals shows that lingual braces cause more severe tongue pain and longer recovery periods than front-facing braces or clear aligners. The tongue is highly sensitive and constantly contacts the brackets during speaking, eating, and swallowing.
Many patients experience a noticeable lisp that can last one month or more. A study of 68 adults found that lingual braces patients had the most severe pain of all braces types.
InBrace shut down operations, leaving patients mid-treatment without support. Incognito (by 3M) and Harmony have faced availability challenges in the United States. Brava by Brius is the newest system but operates in the same low-demand market.
This pattern of instability is a core reason Dr. Greenberg discontinued lingual braces, when a manufacturer exits, patients needing replacements have no recourse. This risk does not exist with established systems like metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, or Angel Aligners.
Only if the underlying market dynamics change. The fundamental issues. Manufacturer instability, patient discomfort, and breakage delays. Are structural, not temporary.
If a new lingual system emerges with proven long-term stability, in-office bracket replacement, and comparable comfort to modern alternatives, Dr. Greenberg will reassess. Until then, the recommendation remains clear ceramic braces or Angel/Invisalign.
Every alternative below offers a discreet appearance without the risks of lingual braces.
Dr. Greenberg will review the case and recommend the most discreet option that actually fits the bite during the free Jacksonville-area consultation, including full exam, digital X-rays, and 3D CBCT scan. No obligation, no pressure.
Book Your Free Consultation →*For new patients only. Patients in treatment $100, deductible from comprehensive treatment fee.