Avoiding Jaw Surgery with Temporary Anchorage Devices
Occasionally, malocclusions, the misalignment of the teeth or poor relation between the teeth of 2 dental arches, are the result of poor jaw alignment that cannot be corrected with braces alone. Sometimes, corrective jaw surgery is indicated. Unfortunately, corrective jaw surgery is also extremely invasive and requires a substantial amount of downtime. Thanks to the ever-advancing field of orthodontics, doctors can now offer patients a less-invasive alternative, Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs), to treat certain misalignments.
What are TADs?
TADs are titanium-alloy mini-screws that are fixed to bone temporarily. The implantation procedure requires only topical anesthetic and results in little to no discomfort. Once placed, the TADs can be used immediately.
In our next post, we’ll talk about “How Do TADs Work?”
