Types of Braces: The Complete Guide

Introduction: Why the Type of Braces You Choose Matters

Not all orthodontic braces are the same. The type you — or your child — wear will affect how visible the treatment is, how long it takes, how comfortable it feels day-to-day, and how much it costs. It can also determine what kinds of tooth movements are achievable and what level of patient cooperation is required.

Today there are more options than at any point in the history of orthodontics. Since clear aligner technology became widely available in the early 2000s, the orthodontic appliance market has diversified rapidly. Patients can now choose between appliances bonded to the fronts of their teeth, bonded to the backs of their teeth, worn over the teeth, or a combination of approaches.

This guide covers every major type of orthodontic braces and aligner system in clinical use — what they are, how they work, what they treat best, who they’re suited for, and what they cost. By the end, you’ll have the vocabulary and context to have a genuinely informed conversation with your orthodontist.

How Orthodontists Categorize Braces

Before diving into individual types, it helps to understand how braces are classified at a mechanical level. Every orthodontic appliance falls into one of two fundamental categories:

• Fixed appliances are bonded or cemented to the teeth and cannot be removed by the patient during treatment. They work continuously, 24 hours a day, which makes them highly effective for complex tooth movements. Traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, self-ligating braces, and lingual braces are all fixed appliances.
• Removable appliances are taken in and out by the patient. Clear aligners like Invisalign are the most prominent example. Their effectiveness depends heavily on patient compliance — they only move teeth when they’re being worn. Removable appliances offer lifestyle flexibility but require discipline.

Within fixed appliances, there is a second important distinction:

• Labial braces have brackets on the outer (lip-facing) surface of the teeth — the surface you can see. This is where the vast majority of braces sit.
• Lingual braces have brackets bonded to the inner (tongue-facing) surface of the teeth. From the outside, the teeth look completely bare.

This labial/lingual distinction is independent of the bracket material (metal vs. ceramic) or the ligature system (conventional vs. self-ligating).

Type 1: Traditional Metal Braces

What They Are

Traditional metal braces are the original orthodontic appliance — continuously refined over more than a century but still built on the same fundamental design: metal brackets bonded to the fronts of the teeth, connected by a metal archwire held in place by small elastic rings called ligatures.

Modern metal brackets are made from medical-grade stainless steel. They are smaller, smoother, and more precisely engineered than older versions. The archwires used today — often made from nickel-titanium alloys or beta-titanium — are heat-activated and shape-memory materials, meaning they exert a consistent, gentle force even as they flex during normal mouth movements.

How They Work

The archwire sits in a slot in each bracket. Its natural tendency to return to its programmed shape is what drives tooth movement. At each adjustment appointment (typically every 4–8 weeks), the orthodontist changes the archwire for a progressively stiffer one, advancing the treatment through its planned stages. Elastic ligatures can be colored — a feature popular among younger patients who use them to express personality.

What They Treat Best

Metal braces are the most versatile orthodontic appliance available. They handle the full spectrum of malocclusion — from mild crowding to complex skeletal discrepancies requiring significant torque, rotation, vertical movement, or molar intrusion. When a case is genuinely difficult, most orthodontists default to metal braces because the level of control they offer is unmatched.

They are particularly effective for:

• Severe crowding requiring multiple extractions
• Significant overbite, underbite, or open bite correction
• Cases involving impacted teeth that need to be guided into the arch
• Patients undergoing combined orthodontic and surgical (orthognathic) treatment

Who They’re Best For

• Children and teenagers who want colored ligatures
• Patients with complex malocclusion
• Anyone prioritizing effectiveness over aesthetics
• Patients on a tighter budget

Pros and Cons

Pros: Most effective for complex cases. Most affordable type. Highly durable. No compliance required (fixed appliance). Widely available from virtually every orthodontist.

Cons: Visible — the most noticeable type of braces. Require dietary restrictions. Oral hygiene requires more effort around brackets and wires. Some soft tissue irritation during adaptation period.

Average Cost

$3,000 – $7,000 in the United States, depending on case complexity, treatment length, and geographic location.

Type 2: Ceramic Braces

What They Are

Ceramic braces are functionally identical to traditional metal braces — same bracket-and-archwire mechanism, same adjustment schedule, same treatment timelines — with one key difference: the brackets are made from polycrystalline alumina (a tooth-colored or translucent ceramic material) rather than stainless steel. Some systems also offer tooth-colored coated archwires to further reduce visibility.

The result is a fixed appliance that blends far more naturally with the color of natural teeth, making it a popular choice for patients who want the reliability of fixed braces with reduced visual impact.

Ceramic vs. Metal: What’s Actually Different?

The mechanics are the same. The differences are cosmetic and material:

• Appearance: Ceramic brackets are tooth-colored or clear, making them far less noticeable than metal.
• Bracket size: Ceramic brackets are slightly larger than metal ones to compensate for the lower tensile strength of the material.
• Staining: The brackets themselves don’t stain, but the elastic ligatures can discolor with coffee, tea, red wine, turmeric, and tobacco. Ligatures are replaced at each appointment, so staining is cyclical and temporary — but noticeable mid-cycle.
• Friction: Ceramic creates slightly more friction against the archwire than metal, which can marginally slow tooth movement or require more force in some movements.
• Breakage: Ceramic brackets are more brittle than metal and more likely to chip under heavy biting forces.
• Debonding: Some ceramic bracket systems are harder to remove at the end of treatment and require more care during debonding to avoid enamel damage.

What They Treat Best

Ceramic braces treat the same range of conditions as metal braces — all malocclusion types and all severities. In practice, most orthodontists consider them equally effective for the majority of cases. They are used slightly less often for the most complex cases where maximum mechanical control is paramount, but this is a fine clinical distinction rather than an absolute limitation.

Who They’re Best For

• Adults and older teenagers who want a discreet fixed-appliance option
• Patients whose cases require the full-time, continuous force of fixed braces but who have aesthetic concerns
• Patients who aren’t good candidates for clear aligners (more on that below) but want something less visible than metal

Pros and Cons

Pros: Significantly less visible than metal. Same effectiveness for most cases. No compliance requirement. Available from most orthodontists.

Cons: More expensive than metal braces. Ligatures can stain between appointments. Slightly more fragile. Can cause more enamel wear on opposing teeth in some bite configurations. Some patients experience slight friction differences.

Average Cost

$4,000 – $8,000 in the United States.

Type 3: Self-Ligating Braces

What They Are

Self-ligating braces use a modified bracket design that eliminates the need for elastic ligatures. Instead of an O-ring holding the archwire in the bracket slot, a built-in spring clip or sliding door mechanism does the job. The archwire can move freely within the bracket — or with low friction — rather than being pinched in place.

The most recognized brand is the Damon System, made by Ormco. Other systems include In-Ovation (Dentsply), Clarity SL (3M), and Speed brackets (Strite Industries). Self-ligating brackets are available in both metal and clear (ceramic) versions.

The Self-Ligating Debate

Self-ligating braces have been one of the most marketed — and most debated — developments in orthodontics over the past two decades. The manufacturer claims have included shorter treatment times, fewer appointments, less pain, and the ability to treat crowding without tooth extractions.

What does the clinical evidence actually show? Systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials published through 2024 find:

• Treatment duration: No clinically significant difference in total treatment time compared to conventional braces in most high-quality studies.
• Pain: Some studies suggest marginally less discomfort in the early stages; others find no difference.
• Extraction rates: No robust evidence that self-ligating braces reduce the need for extractions compared to well-planned conventional treatment.
• Oral hygiene: The absence of elastic ligatures does make the brackets somewhat easier to clean around.
• Appointment frequency: The lower-friction archwire engagement may allow slightly longer intervals between adjustments in some phases of treatment.

The honest assessment: self-ligating braces are a legitimate and well-functioning appliance. Many orthodontists prefer them for specific biomechanical reasons. The more extravagant marketing claims do not hold up to scrutiny, but that doesn’t make them inferior — just not the revolution they were sold as.

Who They’re Best For

• Patients whose orthodontist has a preference or protocol built around self-ligating systems
• Cases where reduced friction is biomechanically advantageous
• Patients who want the option of a clearer bracket (Damon Clear, Clarity SL)
• Anyone whose orthodontist recommends them based on case specifics

Pros and Cons

Pros: No elastic ligatures to stain or replace. Potentially fewer adjustment appointments in some phases. Reduced friction in bracket-wire interface. Available in clear versions.

Cons: More expensive than conventional braces. Overclaimed benefits not consistently supported by evidence. The clip mechanism can occasionally malfunction. Clear self-ligating brackets still have some visibility.

Average Cost

$3,500 – $8,500 in the United States, depending on whether metal or clear brackets are used.

Type 4: Lingual Braces

What They Are

Lingual braces are fixed brackets bonded to the inner (lingual) surfaces of the teeth — the side facing the tongue. From the front, a patient wearing lingual braces looks as though they have no appliance at all. They are the only completely hidden fixed orthodontic appliance.

Because the inner surfaces of teeth are highly irregular in shape and no two people’s teeth are identical, lingual braces cannot be mass-produced. Each bracket is custom-fabricated using a digital scan of the patient’s teeth and CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) technology. The bracket is designed to fit precisely on the lingual surface of each individual tooth, and the archwires are custom-bent to match the planned tooth movements.

The two leading lingual systems in clinical use are:

• Incognito (3M): A fully individualized system with custom brackets and archwires, considered the gold standard of lingual orthodontics.
• Harmony (American Orthodontics): A similarly advanced CAD/CAM-fabricated system.

How They Differ from Labial Braces

The mechanics of tooth movement are the same — brackets and archwires apply force to teeth. But the position inside the mouth creates important practical differences:

• Biomechanics: Forces applied from the lingual side create somewhat different tooth movements than labial braces. Lingual braces can produce excellent results in experienced hands, but they require an orthodontist specifically trained in lingual mechanics — this is a subspecialty within orthodontics.
• Speech: The brackets sit where the tongue makes contact with the teeth to produce certain sounds (th, s, l). Most patients experience a temporary lisp or speech change during the adaptation period, which typically resolves within 2–6 weeks as the tongue adapts.
• Comfort: The tongue is in constant contact with the brackets, which can cause soreness and ulceration early in treatment. Orthodontic wax and time typically resolve this.
• Oral hygiene: Cleaning lingual braces is more challenging because the working surfaces are less accessible and less visible. A water flosser becomes more or less essential.
• Orthodontist availability: Not all orthodontists offer lingual braces. Placement, adjustment, and troubleshooting require specialized training.

What They Treat Best

Lingual braces can treat the same range of cases as labial metal braces, though complex cases require a highly experienced lingual orthodontist. For most patients, the indication is primarily the desire for complete invisibility in a fixed appliance — particularly professionals or adults for whom any visible appliance is unacceptable.

Who They’re Best For

• Adults who require fixed-appliance treatment but cannot or will not wear visible braces
• Professionals — musicians, actors, lawyers, executives, public speakers — for whom appearance during treatment is critical
• Patients who are poor candidates for clear aligners but want invisible treatment
• Patients willing to invest in the premium option for aesthetics

Pros and Cons

Pros: Completely invisible from the front. Fixed appliance — no compliance requirement. Can treat complex cases in experienced hands. Results are comparable to labial braces.

Cons: Significantly more expensive than any other option. Requires a specially trained orthodontist (not universally available). Temporary speech disruption. Tongue soreness during adaptation. Oral hygiene is more demanding. Adjustments take longer and require more precision.

Average Cost

$8,000 – $13,000+ in the United States. The highest cost of any brace type, reflecting custom fabrication and specialist training.

Type 5: Clear Aligners (Invisalign and Alternatives)

What They Are

Clear aligners are a series of custom-fabricated, transparent thermoplastic trays (called aligners or retainers interchangeably, though “aligner” refers specifically to active trays) worn over the teeth. Each tray is slightly different from the last, incrementally moving teeth toward the target position. Patients progress through the series — wearing each tray for approximately one to two weeks — until the full treatment plan is complete.

The dominant brand is Invisalign (Align Technology), which pioneered the category in 1999 and continues to hold the majority of the global market. Other FDA-cleared aligner systems with established clinical use include:

• ClearCorrect (Straumann Group)
• Spark Aligners (Ormco)
• Angel Aligner
• 3M Clarity Aligners

Each system uses a proprietary digital workflow. The orthodontist (or in some systems, the general dentist) scans the patient’s teeth, submits a digital prescription, and receives a 3D simulation of the planned tooth movements before fabrication begins. Invisalign calls this simulation a ClinCheck.

How Clear Aligners Move Teeth

Unlike fixed braces where the bracket is permanently bonded to the tooth and the archwire delivers continuous force, clear aligners work differently:

• Attachments: Small tooth-colored composite “buttons” are bonded to specific teeth before aligner treatment begins. These attachments give the aligner trays something to grip against, enabling more precise and complex tooth movements — particularly rotation and vertical movement — that aligners alone struggle to achieve.
• Aligner material: Aligners are made from multi-layer thermoplastic — in Invisalign’s case, their proprietary SmartTrack material. The tray is slightly smaller than the current tooth position, creating pressure in specific areas that initiates tooth movement.
• Wear time: Aligners must be worn 20–22 hours per day. They are removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and oral hygiene. Insufficient wear time is the primary cause of aligner treatment failure and extension.
• Refinements: It is common for aligner treatment to require one or more “refinement” phases — additional sets of trays ordered mid-treatment to fine-tune results — particularly in complex cases.

Invisalign Product Lines

Align Technology markets Invisalign in several tiers depending on case complexity:

• Invisalign Comprehensive: For full treatment of moderate to complex malocclusion. No limit on the number of aligners in the initial series; includes refinements.
• Invisalign Moderate: For cases requiring less movement — up to 26 upper and 26 lower aligners.
• Invisalign Lite: For mild crowding or spacing — up to 14 upper and 14 lower aligners.
• Invisalign Go / Go Plus: Marketed for use by general dentists for simple cosmetic cases.
• Invisalign Teen: Includes compliance indicators (small blue dots that fade with wear) and replacement aligners for lost or damaged trays.
• Invisalign First: Designed for younger children (Phase 1 / early treatment) with mixed dentition.

What Clear Aligners Treat Well

Clear aligner technology has advanced dramatically since 2010. Contemporary Invisalign Comprehensive, in the hands of a skilled and experienced orthodontist, can treat cases of considerable complexity — including extraction cases, significant overbite correction, and moderate skeletal discrepancies.

However, there remain case types where fixed braces still have a genuine advantage:

• Severe skeletal discrepancies, particularly vertical problems
• Complex rotation of round-rooted teeth (such as upper canines) — though attachments have improved this significantly
• Significant molar intrusion (moving back teeth upward) — a technically demanding movement
• Cases requiring very precise torque control
• Patients who, honestly assessed, will not maintain the required compliance

Mail-Order / Direct-to-Consumer Aligners: A Critical Note

A category of products — most notoriously SmileDirectClub (now defunct) and its imitators — marketed aligner treatment directly to consumers without in-person orthodontic diagnosis, X-rays, or ongoing clinical supervision.

The American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and international orthodontic bodies have consistently warned against these products. Moving teeth without proper diagnosis and supervision carries real risks: root damage, bite worsening, bone loss, and treatment outcomes that require expensive correction. The collapse of SmileDirectClub in 2023 following widespread patient complaints and litigation should be taken as a significant signal.

If aligners are part of your treatment plan, they should be prescribed and supervised by a licensed orthodontist or dentist who has examined you in person, taken appropriate records, and will monitor your progress throughout treatment.

Who Clear Aligners Are Best For

• Adults and older teenagers who prioritize aesthetics during treatment
• Patients with mild to moderate malocclusion
• Patients who travel frequently or play contact sports (aligners can be temporarily removed)
• Patients with excellent self-discipline and the ability to maintain 20–22 hours of daily wear
• Patients who understand that removal for eating and cleaning is a responsibility, not just a perk

Pros and Cons

Pros: Nearly invisible when worn. Removable for eating and oral hygiene. No dietary restrictions. Easier to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Fewer emergency appointments (no broken brackets or wires). Comfortable smooth plastic rather than metal hardware.

Cons: Effectiveness is compliance-dependent — results suffer if trays aren’t worn consistently. Not ideal for the most complex cases. Attachments are visible and partially reduce the “invisible” aesthetic. Treatment can be extended by refinement phases. Some patients find the responsibility of tracking trays burdensome. Can feel tight and uncomfortable for 1–2 days when switching to a new tray.

Average Cost

• Invisalign Lite: $2,500 – $5,000
• Invisalign Comprehensive: $4,500 – $9,000
• Other aligner brands: broadly similar ranges, often slightly less expensive

Type 6: Lingual Retainers and Bonded Retainers (Post-Treatment)

This is not a type of active braces, but it belongs in any comprehensive guide because it is a fixed appliance that orthodontic patients wear — often permanently — after their braces come off.

A bonded retainer (also called a fixed retainer or lingual retainer) is a thin wire — typically braided stainless steel or a fiber-reinforced composite — bonded to the inner surfaces of the front teeth using dental composite. It is invisible, passive (exerts no active force), and requires no patient compliance because the patient cannot remove it.

Most orthodontists bond a retainer to the inner lower front teeth as standard practice at the end of treatment, as the lower front teeth are particularly prone to relapse. Upper bonded retainers are used selectively.

The bonded retainer is used alongside a removable retainer (either a Hawley retainer with a metal wire and acrylic plate, or a clear Essix-style retainer that looks similar to an aligner). Together, they form the retention phase of orthodontic treatment — the phase that preserves the results of everything that came before.

Type 7: Functional and Orthopedic Appliances

These appliances are worth including because they are sometimes confused with or used in combination with braces, particularly in children.

• Palate expanders (rapid palatal expanders / RPE): Fixed or removable appliances that apply lateral force to the upper jaw’s midpalatal suture — a growth plate running down the center of the upper palate — to widen the upper arch. Used primarily in children before the suture fuses (typically before age 14–16). Corrects posterior crossbites and can create space to relieve crowding, sometimes reducing the need for extractions later.
• Herbst appliance: A fixed functional appliance that holds the lower jaw in a forward position to stimulate jaw growth — used in growing patients with significant Class II (overbite) skeletal patterns. Eliminates the compliance problems of removable functional appliances.
• Twin Block appliance: A removable two-piece functional appliance that repositions the lower jaw forward, also used for Class II correction in growing patients. Requires patient compliance.
• Space maintainers: Fixed or removable appliances used to hold space open after early loss of a baby tooth, preventing neighboring teeth from drifting into the gap before the permanent tooth erupts.

These are typically Phase 1 / early treatment appliances, used in children aged 7–12, before or instead of comprehensive braces in the first phase of a two-phase treatment plan.

Comparing All Types: A Complete Reference Table

Type	Visibility	Removable?	Best For	Avg. Cost (US)	Compliance Required?
Metal Braces	High	No	All cases; complex malocclusion	$3,000–$7,000	No
Ceramic Braces	Low–Medium	No	Moderate to complex; aesthetics-conscious	$4,000–$8,000	No
Self-Ligating (Metal)	Medium	No	All cases; orthodontist preference	$3,500–$7,500	No
Self-Ligating (Clear)	Low–Medium	No	Moderate to complex; aesthetics-conscious	$4,500–$8,500	No
Lingual Braces	None	No	All cases; maximum discretion	$8,000–$13,000+	No
Invisalign Comprehensive	Very Low	Yes	Mild to moderate-complex	$4,500–$9,000	Yes (20–22 hrs/day)
Invisalign Lite	Very Low	Yes	Mild cases only	$2,500–$5,000	Yes
Other Clear Aligners	Very Low	Yes	Mild to moderate	$3,000–$7,500	Yes
Palate Expander	Medium	No/Yes	Children; crossbite, crowding	$1,000–$3,000	No/Partial
Functional Appliances	Medium–High	No/Yes	Growing patients; skeletal correction	$1,500–$4,000	Varies

How to Choose the Right Type of Braces

The “best” type of braces is a function of several intersecting factors. Here is how to think about each one:

• Case complexity: This is the most important variable and the one only your orthodontist can assess. Severe malocclusion — significant skeletal involvement, multiple impacted teeth, heavy rotation — demands the precision and continuous force of fixed labial braces. Mild to moderate cases can often be treated with any appliance type.
• Age: Children and younger teens typically do best with metal or ceramic fixed braces. The compliance demands of aligners are harder to meet for younger patients, and the variety of Phase 1 appliances is only applicable during growth. Adults have the full range of options available.
• Aesthetics: If visibility during treatment is the primary concern, the decision narrows to ceramic braces, clear self-ligating braces, lingual braces, or clear aligners. Among these, lingual braces and clear aligners offer the greatest invisibility, but via very different mechanisms and with different trade-offs.
• Lifestyle: Athletes, musicians who play wind or brass instruments, and people who travel frequently may prefer the removability of aligners. Patients who know they will forget to put aligners back in after meals are better candidates for fixed appliances.
• Budget: Metal braces remain the most affordable option. Every step toward greater aesthetics or customization adds cost. Lingual braces are the most expensive.
• Orthodontist experience and preference: The appliance your orthodontist works with most is often the appliance in which they can achieve the best result. A world-class lingual orthodontist will get better outcomes with lingual braces than a general orthodontist who places them twice a year. Ask about their experience with the specific appliance you’re considering.

The most important step is not researching appliances independently — it’s getting a comprehensive clinical evaluation from a qualified orthodontist who can tell you which options are genuinely viable for your specific case.

Questions to Ask Your Orthodontist About Brace Types

Before committing to a treatment plan, consider asking your orthodontist:

• Which types of braces are appropriate for my specific case — and which are not, and why?
• What is your experience and case volume with the appliance you’re recommending?
• If I choose aligners, what is a realistic assessment of my compliance risk?
• Are there any movements in my treatment plan that are biomechanically challenging for the recommended appliance?
• How would the estimated treatment time differ between options?
• What would the cost difference be between options, including retainers and any refinements?
• What happens if I start with aligners and compliance becomes a problem — can we switch?

Frequently Asked Questions

Glossary of Terms Relevant to Brace Types

• Labial: Relating to the lip side; labial braces have brackets on the outer surface of the teeth.
• Lingual: Relating to the tongue side; lingual braces have brackets on the inner surface of the teeth.
• Fixed appliance: An orthodontic device bonded or cemented to the teeth that the patient cannot remove.
• Removable appliance: An orthodontic device the patient takes in and out — aligners, retainers, functional appliances.
• Ligature: The elastic or metal tie that secures the archwire into the bracket slot in conventional braces.
• Self-ligating bracket: A bracket with a built-in clip mechanism that holds the archwire without a separate ligature.
• Archwire: The metal wire threaded through all brackets that delivers force to the teeth.
• Attachment: A small composite resin button bonded to a tooth to give a clear aligner tray better grip and enable more precise tooth movements.
• ClinCheck: Invisalign’s proprietary digital 3D simulation of a planned treatment outcome.
• SmartTrack: Align Technology’s proprietary thermoplastic aligner material.
• Phase 1 treatment: Early orthodontic intervention in young children, using appliances to address developing skeletal problems before comprehensive treatment.
• Palatal expander: An appliance that widens the upper jaw by applying lateral pressure to the midpalatal suture.
• Retention: The phase of orthodontic treatment following appliance removal, during which retainers preserve the results.
• Refinement: Additional sets of aligners ordered mid-treatment to fine-tune results, common in clear aligner therapy.
• Malocclusion: Misalignment of the teeth or jaws affecting the bite — the primary condition braces treat.
• Angle Class I/II/III: Edward Angle’s classification system for malocclusion based on the relationship of the upper and lower first molars.

Related Topics

• What Are Dental Braces? How They Work, Who Needs Them & What to Expect
• Metal Braces: Full Guide
• Ceramic Braces: Full Guide
• Lingual Braces: The Complete Hidden Option
• Invisalign: Complete Treatment Guide
• Braces vs. Invisalign: 10 Key Differences
• How Much Do Braces Cost?
• What Age Should You Get Braces?
• Braces for Adults
• Braces for Kids: Parent’s Complete Guide
• Find an Orthodontist Near You

Reviewed for clinical accuracy. Content reflects current orthodontic practice guidelines as of 2026. This guide is for educational purposes and does not substitute for an in-person orthodontic evaluation.