How long would it take to open a gap between my canine and central incisors? (missing lateral incisors) (photos)

You could use orthodontics along with implants to make space for your missing teeth, then replace your missing teeth, but if you were my patient ....... I would simply just veneer all of your front teeth in one appointment.  This would give you an instant and permanent fix that would leave you with a perfect smile for the next 20-30 years, before having to get your veneers redone.  Find a qualified cosmetic dentist with great before and afters and get a consult to get some veneers.  Veneers will save you time, money and the hassle of having to wear braces or walk around with temporary spaces between your canines and central incisors.  Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMD

With so little space, orthodontic treatment to create space may not be the treatment of choice. This will require significant creation of space and shifting of other teeth. The orthodontist and the restorative dentist should provide you with the best treatment option based on your specific presentation and condition.Dr. Kazemi

Thank you for your question and for providing photos. I think there are definitely options to enhance the aesthetics of your smile. The option of orthodontics to create space for the lateral incisors may be able to be done in your case, but it is generally much more difficult to move teeth backwards than it is to move them forward. Your smile is already slightly narrow which would also make moving teeth backward a bit challenging. You should consult with an orthodontist to get a better idea if creating space is even an option for your situation. A more predictable option in your case would be to do Invisalign to close all spaces, improve alignment, and widen your smile. After this, you could consider doing veneers to improve the shape of the canines to appear like laterals. Judging by your photos, this would be a more predictable and less invasive option than orthodontics and implants for your situation. Have a consult with an aesthetic dentist in your area with a reputation in both Invisalign and veneers to discuss some options. Good luck and best wishes.

You have very little space, and as such it would be difficult (but not impossible) to orthodontically open the space large enough to place a dental implant.  Not only is the small space a problem, but the canine teeth (the ones you want to move backwards) have the longest roots, and as such are more difficult to move.  There is another problem as well, is that even if the space were opened you would most likely have to have bone augmentation (grafting) to have enough bone to place the implants into.I do not believe tooth transplantation is possible to correct your problem.I agree with the concept of porcelain veneers, as this is a very predictable way of correcting your problem.  Braces and implants, even if they could be done would take many years.  Porcelain veneer treatment can be completed in less than a month.I refer you to the web link below, that shows a great example of spacing and missing lateral incisors treated with porcelain veneers.