Clinical Insertion Techniques of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage 2024

Orthodontics is a constantly evolving field, shaped not only by advances in materials but also by innovative ideas from practitioners. Since the introduction of skeletal anchorage in 1945, temporary anchorage devices (TADs) have transformed orthodontic treatment by fundamentally changing anchorage concepts and expanding the limits of tooth movement. TADs allow for more predictable and effective treatment outcomes, such as correcting gummy smiles, reinforcing molar anchorage, and achieving complex tooth movements that were previously considered impossible—like managing deeply impacted mandibular molars. As a result, TADs have significantly expanded the envelope of orthodontic tooth movement. Although numerous case reports demonstrate the versatility of TADs (e.g., incisor intrusion, molar distalization or protraction, molar intrusion, skeletal expansion, and maxillary protraction), many clinicians struggle with: • Identifying the optimal mini-implant insertion sites for specific tooth movements • Lacking confidence in placing mini-implants in anatomically challenging areas, even when they understand the theory