Can you get braces and dental implants at the same time?

Yes, you can have braces and dental implants during the same treatment period, but the order depends on which teeth need to move and where the implant belongs. Braces usually come before implant placement when the surrounding teeth or roots need repositioning, because an implant joined to the jawbone does not move like a natural tooth.

Can you get braces and dental implants at the same time?

Yes—but having both treatments underway is different from placing an implant before your orthodontic plan is ready. Your dentist and orthodontist need to agree on the final tooth positions, root spacing, and bite before choosing the implant’s location.

If you are starting with a gap, the guide to braces with missing teeth explains the broader planning question. Sometimes braces prepare a space for replacement; in other cases, closing that space is part of treatment.

The deciding question is not whether braces and implants can coexist. It is whether the implant belongs in a position that still needs to change. An examination and appropriate imaging establish that distinction.

Why this matters

Placing an implant too early can restrict the space available for straightening teeth. Waiting without a plan can also leave you unclear about how the gap will be managed during treatment. The goal is a stable bite and a replacement tooth that fits the finished smile—not simply finishing whichever procedure is available first.

For treatment planned in 2026, ask for a shared sequence before authorizing implant surgery. A written plan should identify what must happen before placement and what can continue afterward.

Braces before a new dental implant

Braces first is the usual approach when tooth movement affects the future implant site. Natural teeth move through changes in the tissues supporting their roots. An implant joins directly to bone and does not respond to braces in the same way.

A visible gap can look wide enough while the roots beneath it are too close together. Your orthodontist therefore plans more than the space you can see in a mirror. The position of the neighboring roots matters to implant placement.

Braces can also change how the upper and lower teeth meet. The replacement tooth needs to fit that finished bite, so its final shape should follow the agreed treatment plan rather than an early snapshot of your smile.

The advantage is flexibility: your natural teeth can move before the implant fixes the replacement position. The drawback is waiting longer for that stage of tooth replacement. Ask how the team will manage appearance and preserve the planned space while treatment continues.

Braces when you already have a dental implant

An existing implant does not automatically rule out braces. Your orthodontist assesses which natural teeth can move around it and whether the implant’s position works with the intended result.

The implant itself stays in place. Its visible crown also needs evaluation because changing the surrounding teeth can change their contact with it. An implant crown that worked before orthodontic treatment might need adjustment or replacement afterward.

The benefit is that a stable implant does not automatically need removal just because you want straighter teeth. The limitation is that your orthodontist cannot treat it as another movable tooth. If its position conflicts with your goals, discuss that conflict before treatment starts.

Bring any available implant records to your 2026 consultation. Knowing what was placed and where helps the treating clinicians assess the existing restoration and plan around it.

Implant placement while braces are still on

Implant placement during orthodontic treatment is possible in selected cases. The key requirement is that the implant site is ready, even if natural teeth elsewhere still need movement.

For example, finishing movement away from the gap does not necessarily require postponing every implant stage. However, your clinicians must confirm that the remaining movement will not change the space, root positions, or bite relationship needed for the replacement tooth.

The advantage is overlap between appropriate treatment stages. The drawback is added coordination, and overlap does not guarantee a shorter overall course. Healing, tooth movement, and the final crown still have their own requirements.

Do not use “same time” to mean “same appointment.” Having braces in place during implant treatment does not establish that surgery should happen on the day braces are fitted.

Why the treatment order varies

The sequence depends on your mouth, not simply on whether you prefer to replace the missing tooth first. These factors determine which steps can overlap:

• Planned tooth movement: Teeth that need to move into or around the implant site usually need repositioning before placement.
• Root spacing: The space between the neighboring roots matters, even when the visible gap appears suitable.
• Bite position: The final replacement tooth must fit how your upper and lower teeth meet after treatment.
• Bone and gum health: Implant support and healthy surrounding tissues affect whether the site is ready for surgery.
• Jaw growth: Implant timing in younger patients depends on growth assessment, not just whether permanent teeth have appeared.
• Existing implant position: An implant already joined to bone creates a fixed point that the orthodontic plan must accommodate.

For your 2026 treatment plan, ask which factor controls the next step. That answer is more useful than a general promise that everything can happen together.

How should you plan braces and implant treatment?

A coordinated plan connects the straightening work to the replacement tooth. Use this sequence to keep the decisions clear before treatment begins.

1. Assess the mouth. Review the missing tooth, existing restorations, gum health, bite, medical history, and appropriate imaging.
2. Plan tooth positions. Establish whether braces will open, preserve, or close the gap and where the neighboring roots need to finish.
3. Confirm implant readiness. Decide whether the site needs further tooth movement, healing, or other preparation before placement.
4. Coordinate treatment. Identify which clinician approves each transition and how the planned implant space will be maintained.
5. Plan retention. Agree on the final crown and how retainers will keep the natural teeth in their intended positions.

The useful document is a sequence with decision points, not just separate descriptions of braces and implants. You should understand what makes you ready for the next stage.

Questions to bring to your consultation

Ask who is responsible for approving the implant position and whether the orthodontist has reviewed it. Also ask whether the final crown will be fitted before or after braces are removed.

If your care involves different offices, ask how they will share the plan and imaging. You should not have to interpret conflicting instructions about whether the gap is ready.

Affordable Dentist Near Me serves families seeking general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care across its Texas service cities. For braces and dental implants, ask the office how your tooth-straightening and replacement plans will be coordinated.

Will braces move a dental implant?

Braces do not move an implant that has joined to the jawbone. They move suitable natural teeth through the tissues around their roots, which an implant does not have.

This difference explains why a fixed implant can limit the direction or amount of planned tooth movement. Your orthodontist must account for it from the beginning rather than discovering the restriction after braces are underway.

Do you need to finish braces before implant surgery?

You do not always need to finish braces before implant surgery. You need the future implant position to be settled and the site suitable for placement.

If nearby roots are still moving or the gap is still changing, implant placement usually waits. If the site is ready and remaining movement is elsewhere, your clinicians can assess whether overlapping treatment is appropriate.

Can teenagers get braces and dental implants together?

Teenagers need a jaw-growth assessment before dental implant placement. Braces and permanent implants have different timing considerations, so being ready for braces does not establish readiness for an implant.

An implant stays fixed while the surrounding jaws and teeth can continue developing. A dental team can plan how to manage a missing-tooth space while deciding when permanent replacement is appropriate.

What should you expect between treatment stages?

Your smile can pass through an unfinished stage while the gap is prepared and the implant site heals. Ask whether a temporary tooth is suitable and how it would work with your braces. Any temporary replacement must allow the intended movement and follow the surgeon’s instructions.

Cleaning also needs attention. Brackets, wires, and implant restorations create areas that require careful daily care. Ask your dental team to demonstrate how to clean around the braces and implant area without disturbing a healing surgical site.

Before starting treatment in 2026, request a written explanation of the stages included in your estimate. Clarify whether imaging, temporary teeth, additional site preparation, the final crown, and retainers are included or handled separately. Treat a combined plan as connected care, not as a single procedure.

FAQ

One last thing

A gap that looks ready for an implant is not necessarily ready beneath the gums. The neighboring roots can sit at an angle even when the visible space looks right. Before agreeing to surgery, ask your clinician to explain how the root positions and finished bite support the proposed implant location.

Related guides

• Adult braces versus clear aligners
• Dental implants with bone loss
• Options for replacing a single missing tooth