What is a temporary anchorage device (TAD) or miniscrew?

TADs or miniscrews are small temporary screws that are placed into the jaw to help the orthodontist move teeth. There are certain types of tooth movement that are difficult to achieve or take a lot of time. A TAD can be used as an anchor to allow the orthodontist to move the tooth easier and/or faster into position. In some cases, they can allow the orthodontist to move teeth in the back of the mouth without needing brackets and wires in the front until later. This can reduce the amount of time the brackets and wires are visible in the front. When the TAD is no longer needed, it can be easily removed. These same miniscrews are sometimes used when all the teeth need to be extracted to support replacement teeth while permanent dental implants are healing.

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