Orthodontic miniscrews / Tads

TAD placed to aid space closure lower left side

Orthodontic miniscrews, also called Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs), are small diameter (1.5mm to 2mm diameter) titanium alloy screws of varying lengths which are placed, through the gum tissue, into the jaw bone to act as a fixed ‘anchor point’ which can be used to move teeth.

Orthodontic TADs can be placed in a variety of sites within the jaw bones with the most common sites being between the roots of the teeth or in the palatal / roof of mouth. Usually orthodontic TADs are used in conjunction with fixed braces (as complex tooth movements are usually required) but occasionally TADs may be used alongside clear aligners.

Placement of orthodontic TADs, whilst sounding potentially intimidating, is quite straightforward. Local anaesthesia is used to numb a small area of your gum, and the mini-implant is then gently inserted. You may experience an odd pressure sensation as this occurs. Once the numbness wears off you may feel some discomfort within the first 24 hours and approximately 50% of patients report taking simple painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen or paracetamol) to resolve this. Mini-implants are easily removed when no longer needed, by unwinding them, usually without the need for any anaesthesia. The resulting small wound heals painlessly within several days.

Mini-implants do not damage your teeth or other mouth tissues. The vast majority of mini-implants remain stable during brace treatment and cause little nuisance. However, 10-20% of them become loose, usually within the first few months. If this occurs then it’s rarely painful and the mini-implant can be replaced if necessary. As with all orthodontic treatment meticulous oral hygiene is important to maintain the integrity of your TADs. Thorough toothbrushing and regular use of an antiseptic mouthwash is helpful in this regard.

Before treatment