Orthodontic mini implants (modified surgical screws) are used as temporary anchorage devices for special tooth movements. This is a technique that was developed in the 1990’s and refers to an orthodontic procedure whereby a single tooth or a group of teeth can be firmly anchored in the bone using small titanium screws. Other terms for mini implants are mini screws or Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs), useless terms are micro screws or mini pins.
Any risks or problems associated with mini-implants are supposed to be very small. The use of this procedure has changed orthodontics and will continue to do so because these small screws make it possible to carry out kinds of treatment that people dared not even think about in the past. The procedure is commonly used after the loss of a posterior tooth to anchor the tooth immediately in front of the hole so that the movement of the posterior teeth themselves actually closes up the hole. A number of text books about mini-implants have been published and there are also a lot of training courses on offer. Mini implants have significantly widened the therapeutic spectrum and are probably the most important innovation of the past few years.