The present study was designed to investigate the nature of initial tooth displacements associated with varying root lengths and alveolar bone heights. A three-dimensional model of the upper central incisor was developed for the finite element analysis. Tooth displacements were determined at various levels of the tooth and the apicogingival levels of the center of resistance and centers of rotation were calculated. The results showed that moment-to-force values at the bracket level for translation of a tooth decreased with shorter root length and increased with lower alveolar bone height. In addition, apicogingival levels of the center of resistance shifted more gingivally to the cervix, or the alveolar crest with a shorter root. Alveolar bone loss also shifted the center of resistance toward the alveolar crest, whereas its position was more apical relative to the alveolar bone heights exhibited very slight changes in both cases. The centers of rotation from a single force varied substantially with a short root and alveolar bone loss. However, the relative distances of the centers of rotation from the alveolar crest in comparison with the alveolar bone heights were constant at 0.4 mm, with variations in the root length and alveolar bone height. Because this study showed that root length and alveolar bone height affect the patterns of initial tooth displacements both in the center of resistance and the centers of rotation and also in the amount of displacement, forces applied during orthodontic treatment should take into consideration the anatomic variations in the root length and alveolar bone height so as to produce optimal and desired tooth movement.