Yes — you can get braces with missing teeth, and it is more common than most patients expect.
Missing teeth do not disqualify you from orthodontic treatment. In fact, braces are often recommended specifically because of missing teeth, since gaps in the dental arch cause neighboring teeth to drift and tilt over time, making alignment and bite problems progressively worse.
Whether you are missing one tooth or several, an orthodontist can develop a treatment plan that addresses your specific situation. The approach depends on which tooth is missing, why it is missing, and what the long-term restoration plan is — and there are two fundamentally different directions treatment can take. This guide explains both.
Why Missing Teeth Make Orthodontic Treatment More Important, Not Less
When a tooth is lost or never develops, the surrounding teeth do not stay in place. They gradually shift toward the open space, driven by the natural forces of biting and chewing. The teeth on either side of the gap begin to tilt. Opposing teeth in the other arch may over-erupt downward or upward into the space. Over months and years, what began as a simple gap becomes a complex misalignment problem — crowded teeth, an uneven bite, and sometimes jaw pain.
Braces can stop this drift, reverse it, and restore a stable, well-functioning bite. In many cases, treating a missing tooth scenario with braces not only solves the aesthetic problem but also prepares the mouth for a final restoration — like a dental implant or bridge — that will last for decades.
The Two Approaches: Closing the Space vs. Holding the Space
This is the key distinction that most articles don't explain, and it determines the entire direction of treatment.
Approach 1 — Closing the Space
In some cases, the orthodontist determines that the best outcome is to close the gap entirely by moving the remaining teeth together. This eliminates the need for an implant or other restoration and produces a natural result using existing teeth.
Space closure works best when the missing tooth is one that can be replaced functionally by an adjacent tooth — for example, when a first premolar is missing and the second premolar and canine can be moved together without creating a bite problem. It also depends on whether there is enough overall space in the arch to accommodate the shift without crowding.
When space closure is the right approach, braces gradually move the adjacent teeth to fill the gap, and the final result is a complete, uninterrupted smile without any prosthetic restoration.
Approach 2 — Holding or Creating Space for a Restoration
In other cases, the best outcome involves preserving or creating the right amount of space for a future implant, bridge, or other dental restoration. This is the more common approach when the missing tooth is a critical one — a molar, a front incisor, or a tooth whose function and aesthetics cannot be replicated by moving neighboring teeth.
Here, braces serve a different purpose. Rather than closing the gap, they correct the alignment of surrounding teeth, level the bite, and ensure the space is the right size and shape to receive an implant or bridge. Without orthodontic preparation, a gap that has been present for years often cannot accept a properly sized implant because the neighboring teeth have already drifted inward.
The timing of the implant relative to orthodontic treatment matters enormously in this approach — and is one of the most important planning considerations your orthodontist will discuss.
Braces and Dental Implants: Getting the Timing Right
Dental implants and braces interact in a way that requires careful sequencing. This is critical for anyone planning both treatments.
Implants cannot be moved by braces. A dental implant is fused directly to the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Unlike natural teeth, which sit in the bone via the periodontal ligament and can be shifted by orthodontic pressure, an implant is rigidly fixed. If an implant is placed before orthodontic treatment is complete, it cannot be repositioned — and if the surrounding teeth need to move past or around it, treatment becomes significantly more complicated or impossible.
For this reason, the standard sequence is: complete orthodontic treatment first, then place the implant. Braces correct the alignment of all remaining teeth, ensure the space is the right size, and finish the bite — then the implant is placed in the precisely prepared site.
If an implant has already been placed before orthodontic treatment begins, it is often still possible to treat the surrounding teeth, but the implant will serve as a fixed anchor that limits movement in that area. Your orthodontist will assess this carefully and plan accordingly.
Braces and Crowns: Can Brackets Be Placed on Crowned Teeth?
Yes. Brackets can be placed on teeth that have dental crowns. The natural root of a crowned tooth is typically still present, which means orthodontic pressure can still move the tooth normally. The bonding process for attaching a bracket to a crown is slightly different from bonding to natural enamel, but it is a routine part of orthodontic practice.
Congenitally Missing Teeth
Some patients are born without certain teeth — a condition called congenital hypodontia. The most commonly missing teeth congenitally are the upper lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the two front teeth), second premolars, and wisdom teeth.
Patients with congenitally missing teeth often benefit most from orthodontic treatment, since their jaws develop without the spacing that the missing teeth would normally occupy. Braces can either close the space entirely — moving the canine into the lateral incisor position, for example — or open the space to the correct width for a later implant or Maryland bridge. Both approaches have clinical merit, and the right choice depends on the specific anatomy, the patient's age, and the planned restoration.
How Many Missing Teeth Can You Have and Still Get Braces?
There is no fixed limit. Patients with one missing tooth, several missing teeth, or even significant tooth loss can receive orthodontic treatment. The more teeth that are missing, the more complex the treatment planning, but complexity is not the same as impossibility. Your orthodontist will evaluate the distribution of missing teeth, the condition of the remaining teeth, the bone structure, and your overall goals before outlining a treatment plan.
The most important thing is not to delay seeking a consultation. The longer gaps remain without orthodontic treatment, the more surrounding teeth drift and tilt — and the more complex the eventual treatment becomes.
What the Process Looks Like
The process of getting braces with missing teeth follows the same general path as standard orthodontic treatment, with additional coordination depending on your restoration plan.
Step 1 — Initial Evaluation
Your first appointment involves a comprehensive assessment that includes:
- Full X-rays to evaluate bone structure, root positions, and the extent of any drifting
- Photographs and bite impressions
- A review of any planned dental work — implants, bridges, or extractions
- A clear recommendation on whether space closure or space preservation is the right approach for your case
- If restorations are planned, your orthodontist will establish the correct sequencing with your restorative dentist or oral surgeon before treatment begins
Step 2 — Active Orthodontic Treatment
Once treatment starts:
- Brackets are placed on all existing teeth as normal
- Periodic adjustment appointments move teeth toward their planned positions
- If the plan includes preserving space for an implant, a temporary pontic — a placeholder tooth attached to the archwire — is often used to fill the visible gap aesthetically throughout treatment
Step 3 — Restoration (if applicable)
After orthodontic treatment is complete:
- Any planned implants, bridges, or other restorations are placed in the precisely prepared site
- The bite is fully aligned and the space is the exact right size to receive the restoration
Treatment length varies by case complexity, but most patients complete orthodontic treatment in 12 to 24 months, after which any planned restorations proceed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get braces with missing teeth?
Yes. Missing teeth do not prevent orthodontic treatment. Braces are regularly used to treat patients who are missing one or more teeth, and in many cases are specifically recommended to prevent further shifting of surrounding teeth and to prepare the mouth for a dental implant or other restoration.
Can you get braces with a missing tooth in the front?
Yes. A missing front tooth is one of the most common scenarios orthodontists treat. Depending on the case, braces can either close the space by shifting adjacent teeth together, or hold and prepare the space for a future implant or dental bridge. A temporary pontic can be attached to the archwire during treatment to fill the gap aesthetically.
Can you get braces if you are missing back teeth?
Yes. Missing molars or premolars can be treated with braces. The approach depends on whether closing the space or maintaining it for an implant is more appropriate. Missing back teeth often cause adjacent teeth to tilt significantly over time, making orthodontic correction important for long-term bite stability.
Should you get braces before or after a dental implant?
In almost all cases, orthodontic treatment should be completed before a dental implant is placed. Implants are fused to the jawbone and cannot be moved by braces — so completing tooth alignment first ensures the implant is placed in exactly the right position. Placing an implant before braces severely limits what can be accomplished orthodontically around that tooth.
What happens if you have missing teeth and don't get braces?
Without orthodontic treatment, the teeth on either side of a gap gradually drift and tilt toward the open space. Opposing teeth may over-erupt into the gap. Over time this creates crowding, bite problems, increased wear on remaining teeth, and makes future restorations more difficult and expensive. Addressing gaps early with orthodontic treatment prevents these cascading problems.
Can braces close a gap from a missing tooth?
Sometimes. Whether a gap can be fully closed depends on which tooth is missing, the available space in the arch, and the bite relationship. In suitable cases — often involving missing premolars or lateral incisors — braces can move neighboring teeth together to close the space completely, eliminating the need for an implant. Your orthodontist will assess whether this is the right approach for your specific case.
Can you get Invisalign with missing teeth?
Yes. Invisalign can be used to treat patients with missing teeth, following the same two approaches — closing the space or preparing it for a restoration. Clear aligners can incorporate a pontic (a false tooth built into the aligner tray) to fill a visible gap aesthetically during treatment.
Schedule a consultation at Diamond Braces to discuss your specific situation
