What Are Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs)?
Temporary anchorage devices – also called TADs – are small titanium screws placed into the jawbone in order to provide additional fixation or support during orthodontic treatment. TADs can be beneficial when using a tooth as an anchor is not suitable. As the name suggests, TADs are temporary and removed after the orthodontic treatment is complete.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) typically installs TADs, which an orthodontist then uses as an anchor to help reposition the teeth.
TADs commonly are used in correcting overbites or underbites, filling gaps between teeth and managing tooth movement in difficult cases.
Treatment Planning
An orthodontist can assess your bite and general alignment to determine if TADs are necessary. If so, your orthodontist can work closely with an OMS to plan the placement procedure.
Is Anesthesia Used to Place Temporary Anchorage Devices?
TADs are often placed by an OMS under local anesthesia – which numbs the appropriate area of the mouth. Sedation might be suggested to make the procedure more comfortable. Your OMS should place the TADs in the desired position based on the orthodontist’s treatment plan. TAD placements are often short procedures that tend to have minimal discomfort afterward. Over-the-counter pain medications can be used after the procedure if needed.
Healing After TAD Placement
After TAD placement, the mouth should heal naturally. This healing process usually takes several weeks. During this period, it is vital to maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent infection and follow all your OMS’s postoperative instructions.
Removal of TADs
TADs are not a permanent device and should be removed once the orthodontic work is complete. Removal is quick and mostly pain-free and can usually be completed without anesthesia.
Advantages of Temporary Anchorage Devices
There are many reasons why orthodontists and OMSs may use TADs in treating an oral condition. Here are a few of the top advantages:
- Improved treatment accuracy: TADs give orthodontists better control over tooth movement, especially in complex cases where teeth cannot serve as anchors. Increased control can contribute to improved patient outcomes and reduce the need for more invasive procedures in the future.
- Minimally invasive: TAD placement is a minimally invasive procedure. Typically, only local anesthesia is required, and the recovery period is generally short and uncomplicated. Once the TADs have served their purpose, they can be easily removed.
- Uses in multiple conditions: TADs allow for more versatile orthodontic treatments. They can be used to address a range of issues including overbites, underbites, tooth gaps and selective tooth movement, giving orthodontists more options to create personalized treatment plans for their patients without relying on headgear.
- Increased treatment efficiency: By providing additional points of fixation, TADs allow orthodontists to manage specific tooth movements more efficiently than by using teeth as anchor points alone, potentially shortening overall orthodontic treatment time.
Why is Collaboration Important?
TAD placement and treatment requires collaboration between an orthodontist and an OMS. The orthodontist specializes in tooth repositioning, and the OMS places and removes TADs. They work together to ensure a comprehensive treatment plan and to achieve the best possible outcomes.
