Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) are useful when it is not possible to use the back teeth as orthodontic anchorage. If there is no suitable tooth at the site required for the anchorage point, TADs can be used.

1. TEMPORARY
Anchorage Devices
Jonathan
Alexander Abt

2. 2 Jonathan Alexander Abt
Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) are useful
when it is not possible to use the back teeth as
orthodontic anchorage. If there is no suitable
tooth at the site required for the anchorage
point, TADs can be used. Also, if an anchorage
tooth is becoming unstable, TADs can be em-
ployed as a method of stabilisation.
S
imilar to dental implants, TADs are small, screw-
like devices placed directly into the bone of the
jaw. However, unlike implants, they don’t need
to become integrated with the bone, making removal
easier. Implanting and removing TADs is a fast proce-
dure which only requires the area to be numbed for
pain-free treatment.
TEMPORARY
ANCHORAGE DEVICES

3. 3Jonathan Alexander Abt
Temporary anchorage devices have
many other benefits too such as shor-
tening overall treatment time, removing
the need for rubber bands, and even
making some oral surgeries unnecessa-
ry. TADs can also be used in more com-
plex and challenging orthodontic treat-
ment cases which orthodontists may
otherwise find difficult to treat.
T
he need for headgear during ortho-
dontic treatment can sometimes be
eliminated by TADs. Cases where
a pushing or pulling force is required
from an angle outside the mouth would
previously have necessitated the use of
headgear. Wearing orthodontic head-
gear is often uncomfortable, so TADs are
a welcome development for patients.

4. JONATHAN ALEXANDER ABT
To read more about this
topic, visit the blog of
orthodontist Jonathan
Alexander-Abt.