Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs)

 Orthodontic Mini Screws

An orthodontic mini screw is a small metal screw which is inserted through the gum into the jaw bone to act as an anchor to help move poorly positioned teeth. Some people also call them micro-screws, mini-implants or temporary anchorage devices (TADs).

In order to move poorly positioned teeth, the other surrounding teeth usually provide a stable support for the force applied by the brace. It is not always possible to use adjacent teeth and sometimes the force may cause the wrong teeth to move. In such cases, a mini-screw can be used to act as an anchor to help with straightening your teeth and closing up gaps. The TADs are placed using local anaesthetic and this is done at your routine orthodontic appointment. Putting the TADs in is a relatively straightforward procedure which takes little more than 10 minutes.

In addition, clinicians in the department are pioneering the use of TADs in certain cases that would previously have required orthognathic treatment.

Click here to see more information on our departmental information leaflet on TADs.

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