Treatments
Hidden Braces
All the precision of braces, bonded behind your teeth and invisible when you smile, including C5 Hidden Orthodontics.
What They Are
Braces that no one can see
Hidden braces, also called lingual braces, are bonded to the inner (tongue-facing) surface of your teeth rather than the front. From the outside, your smile looks completely unaffected, even mid-treatment.
This makes them the most discreet fixed orthodontic option available. Unlike clear aligners, they're always working, with no trays to remove and no wear schedule to maintain. Unlike traditional braces, no one will ever know they're there.
Smile Suite offers C5 Hidden Orthodontics: no brackets, no aligners. An ultra-thin, custom-shaped wire is bonded behind your teeth with tiny dots of tooth-colored composite. It's an ideal fit for adults and teens with mild to moderate crowding or spacing of the front teeth, or teeth that have shifted after previous treatment.
At Smile Suite, treatment planning goes beyond tooth movement. Dr. Kim considers your facial profile, your bite function, your airway, and your long-term stability as part of every assessment. Hidden braces require more technical skill to place than standard braces, which is why fewer providers offer them. Dr. Kim has the training and experience to use these systems effectively for the right candidates at our Evanston practice.
Why Hidden Braces
Why patients choose hidden braces
Always hidden, always working
Fixed behind your teeth, so no one sees them. Unlike aligners, they work around the clock with nothing to remove.
Proven results
Hidden braces deliver the same results as traditional braces for most cases.
Professional-friendly
Present, speak, and meet clients with no visible hardware.
Nothing to take out at meals
No trays to remove and no worry about how your smile looks while you eat.
Confidence throughout
Smile freely from day one, not just after your braces come off.
Planned around your face
Dr. Kim designs your result around your smile arc, facial profile, and bite, the same way she plans every case.
How They Compare
Hidden braces vs. your other options
vs. Clear Aligners
Both are discreet — but hidden braces are fixed, which means they work continuously without any action on your part. Aligners require 20–22 hours of daily wear and disciplined compliance. For complex cases, hidden braces often provide more precise control. For patients who want to remove their orthodontics entirely for certain situations, aligners offer that flexibility.
vs. Traditional Braces
Same mechanics, different position. Traditional braces are visible on the front of your teeth; hidden braces are on the inside. Treatment capability is comparable across most case types. The tradeoff is an adjustment period for tongue comfort and speech — which typically resolves within a few weeks.
Who This Is For
The right patient for hidden braces
Hidden braces are an excellent solution for adults who want effective orthodontic treatment without visible hardware. They're particularly well-suited to:
Professionals in high-visibility roles
Executives, attorneys, on-camera professionals, speakers — anyone for whom visible braces would feel out of place in their professional context.
Patients with specific compliance concerns
For patients who know they won't maintain aligner wear consistently, a fixed system removes the compliance variable.
Adults and teens with front-tooth concerns
Mild crowding, small gaps, or teeth that have shifted since braces or aligners. C5 can correct them discreetly, often in just a few months.
Cases requiring precise correction
Hidden braces can address complex bite and alignment issues that may be difficult to correct with aligners alone.
Hidden braces aren't the right solution for every case. During your consultation, Dr. Kim will assess whether your specific anatomy and treatment goals make you a good candidate — and she'll be direct with you if another approach would serve you better.
What to Expect
Your adjustment period, honestly described
Tongue adjustment
The inside placement means your tongue will touch hardware it's not used to. Expect some temporary soreness and, for many patients, a slight lisp while the tongue adapts. With no brackets, C5 keeps this minimal.
Speech normalizes
Most C5 patients adapt within a few days. With full lingual braces, speech typically returns to normal within 2–4 weeks. The tongue is highly adaptive, and practice speeds it along.
Appointments & adjustments
Adjustment appointments follow a similar cadence to traditional braces — every 6–8 weeks. The inside position makes these appointments require more technical access, which is factored into appointment time.
The Details
What you should know
Visibility
Zero visible hardware from the front. Even close up in conversation, no one will know you're in treatment.
Comfort adjustment
A few days with C5, or 2–4 weeks with full lingual braces. Tongue soreness and minor speech changes resolve as you adapt.
Oral hygiene
Cleaning around lingual brackets requires the same care as traditional braces, with particular attention to the inner tooth surfaces.
Treatment length
Most C5 cases finish in 3–12 months. Full lingual braces are comparable to traditional braces, typically 18–24 months.
Cost
Full lingual braces are typically priced higher than standard braces due to the added skill and chair time. C5 treats a smaller area over a shorter time, so it generally costs less.
Retention
After treatment, a retainer holds your results: a fixed wire bonded behind your teeth or a removable retainer. We build your retention plan from the beginning, not as an afterthought.
Your Questions
Hidden braces, answered
What are hidden braces?
Hidden braces, also called lingual braces, are bonded to the back (tongue side) of your teeth instead of the front. They move teeth the same way traditional braces do, but no one can see them when you smile.
What is C5 Hidden Orthodontics?
C5 is a hidden orthodontic system with no brackets and no aligners. A patented, ultra-thin shape-memory 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. Most C5 cases finish in 3–12 months.
Who is a good candidate for C5?
C5 is designed for adults and teens with mild to moderate crowding or spacing of the front teeth, including teeth that have shifted after previous braces or aligners. More complex bite corrections are better suited to full lingual braces or traditional braces. Dr. Kim will confirm whether C5 fits your case at your consultation.
Are hidden braces as effective as regular braces?
For most cases, yes. Full lingual braces use the same bracket-and-wire mechanics as traditional braces. C5 is built for smaller corrections. Dr. Kim will tell you which option fits your case, or if another approach would serve you better.
Do hidden braces affect speech?
C5 has minimal to no effect on speech. Because there are no brackets, the wire sits close to the teeth and most patients adapt within a few days. With full lingual braces, expect a brief adjustment while the tongue adapts. Speech typically normalizes within 2–4 weeks.
How much do hidden braces cost?
Cost depends on the system and the complexity of your case. C5 is generally less than full lingual braces because it treats a smaller area over a shorter time. We offer 0% in-house financing. See cost of treatment for details.
Does insurance cover hidden braces?
Many plans with orthodontic benefits cover hidden braces the same way they cover other braces. Our team will verify your coverage before treatment begins. See insurance & financing.
Next Step
Find out if hidden braces are right for your case.
A consultation with Dr. Kim will tell you whether you're a good candidate — and help you compare this option clearly against alternatives. No pressure, no obligation.