Temporary anchorage devices are tiny screws that are temporarily placed into the alveolar (jaw) bone to provide anchorage for orthodontic movement. We love them because they’re minimally invasive and help lots of patients avoid surgery.
Starting in the late 1990s, and increasingly over the past 20 years, TADs have been used as an alternative to more invasive procedures. Some common examples of where patients might benefit from TADs are:
As Dr. Zhou says, “Teeth like to meet their friends.” So, if a bottom molar is missing, the top molar will eventually drop down, looking for a friend to meet. Now, if we want to replace the missing molar with a lifelike and functional restoration, we first must get that top molar out of the way. It’s a healthy tooth, so we certainly don’t want to extract it. But intrusion, or pushing a tooth back into the bone tissue, is a notoriously difficult movement to compel.
That’s where TADs can come to the rescue. One or two TADs placed into the front and back sides of the alveolar bone surrounding the molar in question can support a very simple elastic chain to place constant upward pressure on the tooth. Prior to the availability of TADs, getting the tooth to move in this way might have required bite blocks, or the dreaded headgear.
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If a molar is missing, and we want to eliminate that space to restore bite function, one option is to move the molar behind it into its place. This type of controlled movement, however, presents a challenge that conventional orthodontics can’t easily overcome. If we anchor the tooth we want to move to its closest neighbor tooth, then the movement will be reciprocal–that is, they’ll both move towards one another.
The neutral anchorage of a TAD, on the other hand, can ensure the controlled movement of only the tooth we want to move, in the direction we want it to go. For a patient with a missing molar, TADs represent an alternative to a surgical implant and crown to replace the tooth or a lengthy orthodontic treatment with frequent adjustments.
Some patients just aren’t great at wearing their rubber bands. It’s a common issue with teens, but even the grownest-up of grownups can struggle with this. We want you (or your kiddo) to get the most possible benefit from that orthodontic treatment. And we don’t want anyone wearing braces longer than they should.
TADs offer us an alternative. While temporary anchorage devices are temporary, they aren’t removable by the patient. And perhaps more importantly, you don’t have to remember to carry them with you, put them back on after eating, and change them as instructed.
The short answer is not really. We administer local anesthesia when we place TADs. Once the anesthesia wears off, most patients report feeling a pressure sensation. A day or two of over-the-counter NSAIDs is sufficient for the majority of patients, after which they report feeling normal. Some people find they need to take NSAIDs for up to five days.
To learn more about how temporary anchorage devices can simplify or shorten your orthodontic treatment, schedule a consultation with Dr. Zhou today!
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