Temporary anchorage devices, commonly called TADs or miniscrews, are small titanium screws that give orthodontists a fixed anchor point in bone to move teeth with more precision and control than traditional anchorage methods allow — and placing them is a quick surgical procedure that pairs closely with orthodontic treatment.

Why orthodontists need a fixed anchor point in the first place: moving one tooth typically requires pushing or pulling against another tooth or structure for resistance, which means that “anchor” tooth often moves somewhat too, even when it’s not supposed to. A miniscrew anchored directly into bone doesn’t move at all under that same force, giving the orthodontist a stable point to work from without unwanted side effects elsewhere in the mouth.

Common uses for TADs in orthodontic treatment:

• Closing extraction spaces without allowing the back teeth to drift forward
• Intruding (moving vertically into the bone) an over-erupted tooth
• Correcting midline discrepancies with more precise control
• Anchoring the appliances used in MARPE and MSE palatal expansion, discussed elsewhere on our site
• Certain complex tooth movements that would otherwise require headgear or other less comfortable, less predictable anchorage methods

What placement actually involves: a quick in-office procedure under local anesthesia, typically taking just a few minutes per screw. Most patients describe it as comparable to a numbing injection, with minimal discomfort afterward. The orthodontist then attaches the necessary hardware, like elastics or wires, directly to the screw to apply the planned force.

What happens when treatment is finished: TADs are temporary by design. Once they’ve served their purpose, they’re removed in a simple, quick procedure, and the small area they occupied heals without leaving any lasting mark.

Why coordination between orthodontist and surgeon matters: placement location has to align precisely with the orthodontic force vector the treatment plan calls for, which means the orthodontist’s plan and the surgical placement need to be closely coordinated from the start.

Our oral surgeons at Falcon Implants & Oral Surgery place TADs and miniscrews for referring orthodontists throughout the region. If your orthodontist has recommended a TAD as part of your treatment plan, we’re glad to coordinate that placement directly with their office.