Written by the Diamond Braces clinical team · Updated October 27, 2026
Yes — you can get braces with missing teeth. Depending on your case, an orthodontist can close the gap by moving neighboring teeth together or hold the space open for a future implant or bridge.
Missing teeth do not disqualify you from orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) lists missing teeth as one of the signs that it may be time to see an orthodontist, and the American Dental Association (ADA) notes that the remaining teeth may shift after a tooth is lost.
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 may not stay in place. According to the ADA, the remaining teeth may shift, and bone loss can occur around a missing tooth. Opposing teeth in the other arch can also over-erupt (move down or up) into the space — a British Dental Journal study found some over-eruption in 83% of back teeth with no opposing tooth. Over time, a simple gap can become a bite problem that is harder to correct, and a missing back tooth can affect how you chew.
Braces can move shifted teeth back into better positions and improve the bite. Depending on the plan, they can close the gap or prepare the space for a final restoration — like a dental implant or bridge — placed by your dentist or a specialist.
The Two Approaches: Closing the Space vs. Holding the Space
This is the key decision when planning treatment around a missing tooth, and it shapes the rest of the treatment. The AAO describes both options: moving neighboring teeth together to close the space, or holding the space open for a bridge or implant.
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 may be an option when a neighboring tooth can take over the missing tooth's role without creating a bite problem — for example, in some cases a canine can be moved and reshaped to stand in for a missing upper lateral incisor (often called canine substitution). 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 approach may be recommended when moving neighboring teeth would not replace the missing tooth's function or appearance well.
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. If neighboring teeth have shifted into a long-standing gap, there may not be enough room between the roots for an implant until braces reopen the space.
The timing of the implant relative to orthodontic treatment matters in this approach — and it is one of the main planning points your orthodontist will discuss with you.
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 a metal post placed in the jawbone, and the AAO notes that implants cannot be moved by conventional orthodontic forces. Natural teeth, by contrast, can be shifted by orthodontic pressure. 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 options become limited.
For this reason, the usual sequence is: complete orthodontic treatment first, then place the implant. Braces align the remaining teeth, make sure the space is the right size, and finish the bite — then the implant is placed in the prepared site. For teens, implants are generally delayed until jaw growth is complete, so the space is held with a retainer until then.
If an implant has already been placed before orthodontic treatment begins, it may still be possible to treat the surrounding teeth, but the implant itself will not move, which limits what can be done in that area. Your orthodontist will assess this carefully and plan accordingly.
Braces and Crowns: Can Brackets Be Placed on Crowned Teeth?
Yes. According to the AAO, teeth with crowns can be moved. A crown sits on a natural tooth that still has its root, so the tooth can still respond to orthodontic pressure. The exception is a crown on a dental implant: it is attached to the implant, which cannot be moved by braces.
Congenitally Missing Teeth
Some patients are born without certain teeth — the AAO describes congenitally missing teeth as a genetic occurrence in which permanent teeth do not develop (also called dental agenesis). Apart from wisdom teeth, a meta-analysis of published studies (Polder et al., 2004) found that the most commonly missing teeth are the lower second premolars, the upper lateral incisors (the teeth flanking the two front teeth), and the upper second premolars.
Orthodontic treatment can help in either direction. 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 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?
Missing more than one tooth does not automatically rule out orthodontic treatment. The more teeth that are missing, the more complex the treatment planning becomes, and not every case will be suitable. 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.
It is best not to put off a consultation. Because the remaining teeth may shift over time, a gap that is left alone can make the eventual treatment more complex.
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 impressions or digital scans of your teeth
- 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 — may be used to fill the visible gap during treatment
Step 3 — Restoration (if applicable)
After orthodontic treatment is complete:
- Any planned implants, bridges, or other restorations are placed in the prepared space
- The goal is a well-aligned bite and a space of the right size to receive the restoration
Treatment length varies by case complexity. According to the AAO, most people wear braces for 12 to 24 months, and complex cases can take longer; any planned restorations follow after orthodontic treatment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get braces with missing teeth?
Yes. Missing teeth do not prevent orthodontic treatment. As the AAO explains, depending on what is missing, your orthodontist may move neighboring teeth together to close the space or hold the space open for a bridge or implant, working with your dentist and other specialists.
Can you get braces with a missing tooth in the front?
Yes. 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 (placeholder tooth) can be attached to the archwire during treatment to fill the visible gap.
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. When a back tooth is missing, nearby teeth may shift and the opposing tooth may over-erupt into the space, which can affect your bite and how you chew.
Should you get braces before or after a dental implant?
In most cases, orthodontic treatment is completed before a dental implant is placed. Implants are set in the jawbone and cannot be moved by braces — so completing tooth alignment first helps the implant go in the right position. Placing an implant before braces limits what can be accomplished orthodontically around that tooth. For teens, implants are generally delayed until jaw growth is complete.
What happens if you have missing teeth and don't get braces?
If a gap is left untreated, the remaining teeth may shift toward the open space, opposing teeth may over-erupt into the gap, and bone loss can occur around a missing tooth. Over time, these changes can make bite problems and any future tooth replacement more complex. An early evaluation lets your orthodontist and dentist plan treatment before the space changes further.
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 — for example, some cases of a missing upper lateral incisor, where the canine can be moved into its place — 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, depending on your case. Clear aligners such as Invisalign can be used for patients with missing teeth, following the same two approaches — closing the space or preparing it for a restoration. Your orthodontist will tell you whether aligners or braces are the better fit for your case.
Schedule a consultation at Diamond Braces to discuss your specific situation
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Sources: American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) — FAQs "Can I get orthodontic treatment if I'm missing teeth?" and "I have crowns. Can my teeth be moved?", Glossary of Orthodontic Terms (Implant, Bridge, Congenitally Missing Teeth), "How Do Braces Work?" and "What Happens at Your First Orthodontic Appointment?"; American Dental Association (ADA) MouthHealthy — "Missing Teeth"; Polder BJ et al., "A meta-analysis of the prevalence of dental agenesis of permanent teeth," Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (2004); Craddock H, Youngson C, "A study of the incidence of overeruption and occlusal interferences in unopposed posterior teeth," British Dental Journal (2004); Richardson G, Russell KA, "Congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors and orthodontic treatment considerations for the single-tooth implant," Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (2001); Celenza F, "Orthodontics for Implant Site Development," ITI Forum Implantologicum (2023); Alkadhimi A et al., "Camouflaging the permanent maxillary canine to substitute an absent lateral incisor – part 2," British Dental Journal (2022); Tichler HM, Abraham JE, "Stabilizing a Pontic with Wax," Journal of Clinical Orthodontics (2004).
