Yes, in most cases you can get a dental implant while wearing braces or Invisalign, though the exact sequencing depends on where the missing tooth is and what your overall treatment plan is trying to accomplish. Often an orthodontist will move the surrounding teeth into the ideal position first to open (or close) the right amount of space, and the implant is placed either during a pause in orthodontic treatment or once the teeth have finished moving. Coordination between your orthodontist and the dentist or oral surgeon placing the implant is what makes this work well.
Why Timing Matters With Implants and Orthodontic Treatment
A dental implant is anchored directly into the jawbone and, unlike a natural tooth, it doesn't move in response to orthodontic force. That's exactly why sequencing matters: if braces or Invisalign are going to shift teeth on either side of a gap, that movement generally needs to happen before the implant goes in, so the final spacing is correct. Placing an implant into a space that's still being adjusted can lock in a position that no longer matches the rest of the treatment plan.
Common Scenarios for Combining Implants With Orthodontic Treatment
Every case is different, but a few patterns come up often. Sometimes a patient starts orthodontic treatment with a missing tooth already accounted for in the plan, and braces or aligners are used to create precisely the right amount of space for an implant that goes in afterward. Other times, an existing implant is already in place before orthodontic treatment even begins, and the treatment plan is simply built around it, moving the other teeth as needed while leaving the implant undisturbed.
In a mixed scenario, a patient partway through treatment might need an implant for an unrelated reason — an injury or an extraction, for example — and treatment can often continue in aligners or braces around that single site with some adjustment to the plan.
Typical Sequencing Options
- Orthodontics first, then implant: Braces or Invisalign open or close space precisely, and the implant is placed once that space is finalized.
- Implant already in place: Treatment is planned around the existing implant, which doesn't move with orthodontic force.
- Implant mid-treatment: Treatment pauses briefly around the implant site while it's placed and heals, then resumes.
Does an Existing Implant Limit What Invisalign or Braces Can Do?
An implant tooth stays fixed in the bone, so it acts as an anchor point rather than a moving piece of the puzzle. This isn't necessarily a limitation — our orthodontists can plan movement of the natural teeth around a stable implant, and in some cases a fixed implant even provides a useful, stable point to help move other teeth more efficiently. What it does mean is that the implant's exact position needs to be accounted for from the very start of treatment planning.
How Coordination Between Providers Works
Because an implant involves both a surgical placement and a restoration on top of it, treatment usually involves your orthodontist working alongside a general dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon. Digital scans and X-rays taken during orthodontic visits are useful here too — they give every provider involved a precise, shared picture of the available space and root positions, so the implant can be planned to fit the orthodontic outcome rather than the other way around.
Can You Start Invisalign or Braces If You're Missing a Tooth?
Yes. A missing tooth doesn't rule out orthodontic treatment; if anything, it's often the reason treatment is being considered in the first place, since braces or aligners can close a gap, redistribute space evenly, or open just enough room for a future implant. What matters most is being upfront about the missing tooth and any implant plans during your initial evaluation, so it's built into the treatment plan from day one rather than discovered partway through.
What This Means for Your Treatment Timeline
Combining orthodontic treatment with a dental implant generally adds coordination steps rather than dramatically extending overall treatment time, since the implant site typically needs a healing period regardless of whether orthodontic treatment is happening around it. Your orthodontist and your restorative dentist will map out a realistic combined timeline together at the planning stage, factoring in healing time for the implant alongside the orthodontic movement.
If you're weighing Invisalign against other options while an implant is part of the picture, our Invisalign team at Davis & Goldberg Orthodontics can walk through how clear aligners specifically interact with implant planning during a consultation.
Why Precise Digital Records Matter for Implant Planning
When orthodontic treatment and an implant are being planned together, the precision of the diagnostic records matters more than in a typical case, since the implant site needs to end up in an exact, specific location relative to the neighboring teeth. Digital scans give a restorative dentist or oral surgeon a precise, three-dimensional view of the space being created, rather than relying on an estimate. Digital X-rays add another layer of detail, showing root angles and bone levels around the planned implant site, which helps confirm there's enough healthy bone to support it before any orthodontic movement even begins.
What If the Missing Tooth Is a Baby Tooth in a Younger Patient?
Implants generally aren't placed until a patient's jaw has finished growing, since an implant doesn't move or erupt the way a natural tooth would as the jaw develops further. For younger patients missing a tooth, orthodontic treatment often focuses on maintaining or managing the space with a retainer-type appliance until the patient is old enough for an implant to be a stable, appropriate long-term option, at which point a restorative dentist or oral surgeon takes over that specific step.
Talking to Your Orthodontist About Implant Plans Early
The earlier an implant is part of the conversation, the more precisely a treatment plan can be built around it. Patients sometimes wait to mention a planned implant until later in treatment, which can mean adjusting a plan that was built without that information. Bringing it up at your very first consultation — even if the implant itself is still months or years away — gives our orthodontists the chance to build the right amount of space and the right timeline into your plan from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Invisalign move teeth next to an implant?
Yes, aligners can move the natural teeth around an implant; the implant itself simply stays fixed in place since it's anchored in bone rather than held by a ligament like a natural tooth.
Do I need to remove an implant before starting braces?
No. An existing implant doesn't need to be removed for orthodontic treatment; your orthodontist plans tooth movement around it instead.
How much space does an implant need before it can be placed?
It varies by case and by the size of the tooth being replaced, which is exactly why orthodontic space management before placement is often part of the plan — your orthodontist and restorative dentist determine the target space together.
Will getting an implant delay finishing my orthodontic treatment?
It depends on the timing needed for the implant to heal, but in many cases the orthodontic treatment continues on the rest of the arch while a single implant site heals, so overall delays are often minimal.
At what age can a dental implant typically be placed?
Implants are generally placed only after jaw growth is complete, which is why younger patients missing a tooth often have that space managed temporarily until they're old enough for an implant to be an appropriate long-term option.
Disclaimer: The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.