Treatments
C5 Hidden Orthodontics
No brackets. No aligners. An ultra-thin wire bonded behind your teeth that straightens your smile where no one can see it.
What It Is
Straighter teeth, from behind
C5 Hidden Orthodontics straightens your front teeth with a thin, custom-shaped wire bonded to the back of your teeth. There are no brackets on the front, no brackets on the back, and no trays to wear. From the outside, your smile looks exactly as it does today.
It's an ideal fit for adults and teens with mild to moderate crowding or spacing of the front teeth, and especially for anyone whose teeth have shifted after previous braces or aligners.
C5 is part of our hidden braces options. As with every treatment at Smile Suite, Dr. Kim plans your result around your whole face: your smile arc, your profile, your bite, and your long-term stability.
How C5 Works
A thin wire doing precise work
C5 uses gentle, continuous pressure to move your teeth, the same principle behind all orthodontics, delivered by a wire small enough to disappear behind your smile.
ProWire
A patented, very thin shape-memory nickel-titanium wire. It's custom-shaped to your teeth, then gently and continuously guides them into place.
No brackets
Instead of brackets, the wire runs through tiny dots of tooth-colored composite bonded to the back of each tooth. There is almost nothing for your tongue to notice.
Sliding mechanics
As the wire works, your teeth slide along it into the positions Dr. Kim planned. Nothing to remove, nothing to remember.
Why C5
The benefits of C5 Hidden Orthodontics
Completely hidden
The wire sits behind your teeth. No one sees it when you talk, smile, or take a photo.
Bracket-free comfort
No bulky brackets or protruding wires, so there is little to no adjustment period.
Faster treatment
Most C5 cases finish in 3–12 months.
Minimal speech impact
The low-profile wire has minimal to no effect on speech. Most patients adapt within a few days.
Nothing to take out
No trays to remove at meals and no wear schedule. Just brush and floss.
Planned around your face
Dr. Kim designs your final result around your smile arc, facial profile, and bite, not just straight teeth.
Is C5 Right for You?
Who C5 is designed for
Teeth that shifted after treatment
Had braces or aligners years ago and noticed your front teeth moving? C5 is designed for exactly this kind of relapse.
Mild to moderate crowding
Front teeth that overlap or twist slightly can be straightened without full braces.
Gaps between front teeth
Mild to moderate spacing in the front of the smile can be closed discreetly.
Adults and teens who want it hidden
For patients who want a correction no one will see, without trays to keep track of.
C5 is built for front-tooth corrections. If your case involves significant bite issues or full-mouth crowding, Dr. Kim will tell you directly and walk you through options like full lingual braces, traditional braces, or clear aligners.
How It Compares
C5 vs. your other options
| Feature | C5 | Clear Aligners | Lingual Braces | Traditional Braces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Completely hidden | Nearly invisible | Completely hidden | Visible |
| Brackets | None | None | Behind each tooth | On each tooth |
| Removable | No, always working | Yes, 20–22 hrs/day wear | No, always working | No, always working |
| Speech | Minimal to no effect | Brief adjustment | 2–4 week adjustment | No effect |
| Typical time | 3–12 months | Varies by case | 18–24 months | 18–24 months |
| Best for | Front-tooth crowding, spacing, and relapse | Mild to moderate cases | Comprehensive correction | Comprehensive and complex bites |
What to Expect
Your C5 treatment, step by step
Consultation
Meet with Dr. Kim in person or start with a virtual consult. She'll tell you honestly whether C5 is the right fit for your case.
3D digital scan
A quick digital scan captures your teeth in 3D. No goopy impressions.
Custom treatment plan
Dr. Kim designs your final smile digitally, and your ProWire is custom-shaped to match the plan.
Bonding
Your teeth are cleaned and prepped, and the wire is bonded behind them in a single visit.
Progress check-ins
We monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed until your teeth reach their planned positions.
Retention
Once treatment is complete, you'll choose a fixed wire bonded behind your teeth or a removable retainer to protect your result.
Your Questions
C5, answered
What is C5 Hidden Orthodontics?
C5 is a hidden orthodontic system with no brackets and no aligners. A patented, ultra-thin wire called ProWire is custom-shaped to your teeth and bonded behind them with tiny dots of tooth-colored composite. The wire gently slides your teeth into place.
How is C5 different from lingual braces?
Traditional lingual braces use a bracket bonded behind every tooth. C5 has no brackets at all, just a thin wire held by small composite dots. That makes it more comfortable and far easier on speech. Full lingual braces are still the better choice for comprehensive, full-mouth correction.
Is C5 good for orthodontic relapse?
Yes. C5 is especially well-suited to adults and teens who had braces or aligners in the past and have noticed their front teeth shifting. It corrects the relapse without putting you back in full braces.
How long does C5 treatment take?
Most cases finish in 3–12 months. Dr. Kim will give you a realistic estimate for your case at your consultation.
Does C5 hurt?
Like any orthodontic treatment, you may feel mild pressure as your teeth begin to move. Because C5 has no brackets, there is little to irritate your tongue, and most patients describe it as barely noticeable.
Does C5 affect speech?
C5 has minimal to no effect on speech. The wire sits close to your teeth, and most patients adapt within a few days.
Can I eat normally with C5?
Yes. There are no trays to remove at meals. As with any fixed appliance, avoid biting directly into very hard foods with your front teeth. Brush and floss as usual to keep the area around the wire clean.
What happens after C5 treatment?
You'll wear a retainer to hold your result: either a fixed wire bonded behind your teeth or a removable retainer. Dr. Kim will help you choose. Learn more about retainers & retention.
How much does C5 cost?
Because C5 treats the front teeth over a shorter time, it generally costs less than comprehensive braces. Your exact fee depends on your case. We offer 0% in-house financing. See cost of treatment and insurance & financing.
Next Step
Find out if C5 is right for your smile.
A consultation with Dr. Kim will tell you whether C5 fits your case, how long it will take, and what it will cost. No pressure, no obligation.