Mini Screws and TADs (3)

Orthodontic Mini Screws and TADs from Orthdent

A mini screw - also called a TAD (temporary anchorage device) or micro implant screw - is a small titanium screw placed in the alveolar bone to give the appliance a fixed point to pull against. Because it uses bone rather than other teeth as the anchor, it lets a clinician move a specific tooth, or a whole arch, without unwanted side effects on the rest of the dentition.

Points worth checking when you choose a mini screw:

• Diameter and length. The combination decides how much bone the screw engages and how much load it can take. Narrower and shorter screws suit limited interdental space; longer screws give more anchorage.
• Self-drilling or self-tapping. A self-drilling screw has a cutting tip and is placed without a pilot hole. A self-tapping screw needs a pilot hole drilled first.
• Head design. The head has to accept the attachment you plan to use - ligature tie, elastic chain, coil spring or a bracket-like head.
• Insertion tools. The screwdriver or wrench has to match the screw head, or the screw is stripped on insertion - so the tool is part of the system, not an accessory.

Orthdent supplies orthodontic mini screws and insertion tools to clinics, orthodontic practices and distributors. Browse the listing above for what is currently in stock, and contact us if you need a size that is not shown.