Are lingual braces as effective as normal braces?

Evidence suggests yes for finishing quality. A 2026 study of 200 adults in Clinical Oral Investigations found lingual and labial fixed appliances produced comparable results on the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System, with no significant effect of appliance type after adjustment. Lingual treatment did take significantly longer to complete.

How much do lingual braces cost in Dublin?

Lingual appliances are customised to the individual patient, so ISCD quotes them case by case after a specialist orthodontic assessment, which costs €150. For context, our published fees are fixed metal or ceramic braces at €1,250 to €3,500 per arch and Invisalign at €2,500 to €3,500 per case. A written cost breakdown is provided before treatment begins and interest-free payment plans are available.

Lingual Braces Dublin

Q: Do lingual braces affect your speech?

Yes. Most patients adapt substantially over the first few months, but a 2025 systematic review of 35 studies concluded that lingual appliances have a persistent impact on speech despite some adaptability. Expect a lisp initially and discuss the likely duration with your orthodontist before the appliance is fitted.

Q: Who fits lingual braces at ISCD?

Dr. Erfan Salloum, Specialist Orthodontist, is the only orthodontist at ISCD who treats with lingual appliances. He holds a Master's Degree in Lingual Orthodontics from the University of Padova, completed under Professor Dirk Wiechmann, developer of the WIN customised lingual system, and is a Titular Member of the European Society of Lingual Orthodontics.

Fixed braces bonded behind the teeth — planned and fitted by Dr. Erfan Salloum, MSc Lingual Orthodontics (Padova), Specialist Orthodontist.

Last reviewed: July 2026

Lingual braces are fixed orthodontic appliances bonded to the inner (tongue-side) surface of the teeth, so the brackets and wires are not visible from the front while still delivering the full tooth-movement control of conventional fixed braces.

At the Institute of Specialist and Cosmetic Dentistry (ISCD), lingual treatment is provided by Dr. Erfan Salloum, the only orthodontist in our practice who treats with lingual appliances. Lingual orthodontics is a distinct discipline: the brackets sit on a different tooth surface, the mechanics differ from labial braces, and the appliance is customised to each patient. It is not conventional braces turned around.

Our Dublin 1 clinic in the IFSC treats adults and older teenagers with lingual appliances, alongside the full range of specialist orthodontic options.

Why Dr. Erfan Salloum Leads Lingual Treatment at ISCD

Dr. Salloum holds a Master’s Degree in Lingual Orthodontics from the University of Padova, completed under Professor Dirk Wiechmann — the developer of the WIN customised lingual appliance system.

Dr. Salloum is a Specialist Orthodontist registered with the Dental Council of Ireland. He graduated in dentistry in 2008 and completed his Doctorate in Clinical Orthodontics (DClinDent) at University College Cork before his lingual training in Padova. He holds Membership and Fellowship qualifications from all four Royal Surgical Colleges across Ireland, England, Scotland and Glasgow.

His formal distinctions span the three major fields of contemporary orthodontics:

Diplomate, European Board of Orthodontics (EBO) — comprehensive orthodontics
Diplomate, European Board of Aligner Orthodontics (EBAO) — clear aligner orthodontics
Titular Member, European Society of Lingual Orthodontics (ESLO) and Active Member, World Society of Lingual Orthodontics (WSLO) — lingual orthodontics

He is one of a small number of orthodontists in Ireland to hold European distinctions across all three of these fields, and serves as Scientific Secretary of the Orthodontic Society of Ireland.

Dr. Salloum also treats with fixed labial braces and clear aligners. That range matters: the appliance should be chosen to suit the case, not the other way around. Where lingual is not the right mechanism for a particular malocclusion, he will say so and recommend the appliance that is.

How Lingual Braces Compare to Conventional Braces

Current evidence indicates lingual appliances finish adult cases to the same objective standard as labial fixed braces, but take longer to do it.

A 2026 retrospective cohort study published in Clinical Oral Investigations compared 200 adults treated with fixed appliances, split into four equal groups of 50 — lingual and labial, each with and without extractions. Finishing quality was scored using the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System. Mean scores were closely comparable across all four groups, every case finished within the ABO threshold, and after statistical adjustment there was no significant effect of appliance type on the final result. Treatment duration, however, was significantly longer with lingual appliances (Nguyen et al., 2026, PMID 41790284).

That is the honest trade-off: comparable finish, longer in treatment. We would rather you know that before you commit than discover it at month fourteen.

Speech, Comfort and Adaptation: What to Expect

Lingual braces affect speech, and while most patients adapt substantially within the first few months, a systematic review found the speech impact can persist rather than disappear entirely.

A 2025 systematic review in Healthcare pooled 35 studies covering 2,611 adults across removable aligners, labial fixed appliances and lingual appliances. Its conclusion on lingual treatment was direct: lingual appliances have a persistent impact on speech, despite some adaptability. The same review found that deterioration in oral health-related quality of life during orthodontic treatment generally appears temporary (Johal et al., 2025, PMID 41464384).

An earlier prospective study of patients fitted with upper-arch lingual brackets tracked them from before fitting to three months afterwards. Articulation improved significantly as patients adapted over that period, but restriction of tongue space, tongue position, chewing, biting and oral hygiene had not fully returned to baseline by three months. The authors concluded that patients should be briefed in detail on the extent and likely duration of these effects before the appliance is fitted (Hohoff et al., 2003, PMID 14692050). This is a small study by modern standards — 22 patients, upper arch only — but its practical conclusion is one we follow.

In practice this means: expect a lisp initially, expect tongue soreness in the first weeks, and expect oral hygiene to take more effort throughout. Dr. Salloum will go through all of this at your assessment rather than after bonding.

Who Is Suitable for Lingual Braces?

Lingual braces suit adults and older teenagers who want fixed-appliance control without visible brackets, and who have sufficient tooth height on the inner surface for the brackets to bond predictably.

They are most often chosen by patients whose work or personal circumstances make visible braces unappealing, but whose case needs the three-dimensional control that fixed appliances provide and aligners may not deliver as predictably. Very short clinical crowns, certain bite patterns and some skeletal discrepancies can make lingual a poor mechanical choice.

Suitability is a clinical judgement, not a preference. It is settled at assessment, using intraoral scanning and — where indicated — CBCT imaging, both of which Dr. Salloum uses routinely in treatment planning. Where a case involves the airway, craniofacial growth or suspected sleep-disordered breathing, he works alongside ENT surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, restorative dentists and sleep physicians.

Lingual Braces Cost in Dublin

A specialist orthodontic assessment at ISCD costs €150. Lingual appliances are customised to the individual patient, so they are quoted case by case following that assessment rather than from a standard price list.

For context, our published orthodontic fees are fixed metal or ceramic braces at €1,250 to €3,500 per arch and Invisalign at €2,500 to €3,500 per case. Lingual treatment is a customised appliance and its fee reflects the laboratory work and appointment time involved, so we quote it individually rather than advertise a figure that may not apply to your case.

You will receive a written breakdown of costs before treatment begins. Interest-free payment plans are available. We do not discount orthodontic treatment, and we do not offer free consultations — the assessment is a clinical appointment with a registered specialist, and it is charged as one.

Book a Specialist Assessment

Patients can be referred by their general dentist or contact ISCD directly to arrange an assessment with Dr. Salloum. We are located at 4 NCI, Lower Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1.

Call (01) 504 2065 or visit our contact page to get started. You may also want to read about our specialist orthodontic treatment, Invisalign and adult brace options.