Mini-Implants in Orthodontics

Anchorage control during active orthodontic treatment is essential for uncompromised results. Conventional method of supporting anchorage have been using either tooth borne anchorage or extra oral anchorage. Extra oral anchorage can be used to supplement tooth borne anchorage and to deliver forces in directions not possible with intra oral forces but requires excellent patient co-operation. Intra-oral skeletal anchor units that are predictably stable, non-invasive, biocompatible and comfortable could make appliance design simplified and more efficient. With the introduction of Mini implants and microimplants they can be placed in areas earlier impossible. They are less expensive, allowing early force application and with reduced treatment time. The presently available implant systems are bound to change and evolve into more patient friendly and operator convenient designs. Long-term clinical trials are awaited to establish clinical guidelines in using implants for both orthodontic and orthopedic anchorage.

The objective of this article is to review the types of min-implants depending on the loading time, placement and insertion of min-implants, complications associated with and to formulate a definite clinical protocol for loading of orthodontic mini implants. It also deals with the future scope of min-implants usage during active orthodontic treatment.