Treatments · 05 of 08
Mini
screws
Temporary anchorage devices. Orthodontists worldwide use them to correct bite problems that traditionally required jaw surgery.
What it is
Orthodontic mini-implants — best known as TADs — are a relatively recent addition to the orthodontic armamentarium. They act as fixed anchors for tooth movements that are difficult or impossible to achieve with braces alone.
They are also known as temporary anchorage devices, mini implants or micro implants. These devices anchor or stabilise teeth in a specific position, so force can be applied to move one group of teeth without unintentionally moving another.
This is Dr. Deen’s own research field. His doctorate at the University of Malta focused on skeletal anchorage, and his randomised clinical trial comparing tooth-borne against skeletally anchored protocols in early Class III treatment was published in the European Journal of Orthodontics.
- Size and design
- Small, temporarily implanted into the jawbone. Made from titanium, which is biocompatible and integrates well with bone.
- Placement
- A minor surgical procedure, usually carried out in the orthodontic clinic.
- Temporary
- Removed once treatment is complete.
- Used for
- Closing spaces, correcting complex malocclusions, and movements that would otherwise mean surgery.
Why patients choose it
Would this suit your case?
Book a consultation and you will be told whether this appliance genuinely applies, what the alternatives are, and roughly how long treatment takes.