Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can affect more than just the appearance of your smile. Gaps may impact bite function, chewing efficiency, tooth stability, and long-term oral health. At Dr. Doug Orthodontics, we regularly help patients with missing teeth explore orthodontic solutions that may reduce or even eliminate the need for dental implants by safely closing spaces.

What Causes Missing Teeth?

Teeth may be missing for a variety of reasons, including congenital absence where teeth never developed, early tooth loss due to decay or trauma, or extractions performed earlier in life. Over time, surrounding teeth may drift into open spaces, leading to spacing, bite imbalance, or functional concerns.

Do Missing Teeth Always Require Dental Implants?

No. While dental implants are a common and effective solution, they are not always the only option. In certain cases, orthodontic treatment can reposition teeth to close spaces, improving function and appearance without the need for implants.

Orthodontic space closure is most successful when planned carefully and guided by advanced orthodontic techniques.

How Can Orthodontics Help Close Spaces From Missing Teeth?

Orthodontic treatment can be used to carefully move surrounding teeth and close gaps created by missing teeth. When appropriate, this approach may offer several benefits.

Orthodontic space closure may help:

• Eliminate or reduce the need for dental implants in certain cases
• Improve bite alignment and chewing efficiency
• Create a more natural-looking smile without prosthetic teeth
• Reduce long-term maintenance associated with implants or bridges
• Preserve bone and support healthier tooth positioning
• Achieve stable, long-lasting results with proper planning

At Dr. Doug Orthodontics, advanced planning and modern orthodontic mechanics allow us to close spaces safely and predictably when this option is appropriate.

What Are TADs and How Do They Help With Missing Teeth?

Temporary anchorage devices, known as TADs, are small, temporary anchors placed in the jawbone to provide additional control during orthodontic treatment. TADs allow teeth to be moved with greater precision, especially in cases where traditional braces or aligners alone may not offer enough anchorage.

When closing spaces from missing teeth, TADs can help:

• Move teeth efficiently without unwanted shifting
• Improve control over complex tooth movements
• Expand treatment possibilities beyond conventional orthodontics
• Support predictable outcomes in challenging cases

TADs are removed once they have served their purpose and do not remain in the mouth permanently.

Why Is This a Common Treatment at Dr. Doug Orthodontics?

Orthodontic space closure using TADs is something we do routinely. Dr. Doug has extensive experience planning and managing complex orthodontic cases and uses advanced digital planning to determine when space closure is a viable alternative to implants.

This approach is especially valuable for patients who want to avoid implants when possible or who are not ideal candidates for implant placement.

Is Orthodontic Space Closure Right for Everyone?

Not every missing tooth case can or should be treated with orthodontic space closure. Factors such as bite alignment, jaw relationships, tooth size, gum health, and overall dental condition all play a role in determining the best treatment option.

During your consultation, Dr. Doug will evaluate your smile, review diagnostic records, and explain all available options so you can make an informed decision.

Schedule a Consultation for Missing Teeth Treatment

If you have missing teeth and want to understand all available options, including orthodontic space closure, we’re here to help.

Contact Dr. Doug Orthodontics to schedule a consultation and learn whether closing spaces orthodontically may be the right solution for your smile.