Yes, braces can result in shorter tooth roots. When a tooth is moved to new locations in the mouth, enzymes dissolve the bone around its starting location, and new bone grows around its final location. During this process, the roots of the tooth can shorten by around 5 to 15%. Usually, this decrease is not even noticeable. However, if roots become too short, it can cause problems down the line and may require a dental procedure such as a root canal. To learn more about short roots, read our blog article "Root Resorption & Short Teeth Roots."