TADS : From Enthusiasm, to frustration or back to the future!

Now, more than ten years later quite a lot of clinicians a frustrated about high loss rates and non-working biomechanics. Currently, the alveolar process still is the most preferred insertion site. However, due to the varying bone quality and the risk of root contact, the survival rate of implants inserted in the alveolar ridge , especially interradicular, still needs improvement. Other regions, such as the anterior palate for miniscrews and implants or the mental region for miniplates, provide much better conditions for mini-implant insertion, since the amount and quality of the available bone is far superior. Implants with different types of abutments and connectors allow the construction of versatile and cost efficient appliances for a large variety of orthopedic and orthodontic applications. Utilizing TAD´s in the anterior palate and the mental region eliminates the risk of root injury and takes the implants out of the path of tooth movement. This lecture will show an overview of the up to date literature, current developments of appliance designs, main indications, placement techniques, and risk factors during placement and orthodontic treatment. It will especially focus on the success rate of mini-implants, palatal implants and miniplates and the biomechanics of the connected orthodontic appliance. The lecture will show scientific and clinical perspectives on how mini-screws can become a safe and reliable standard device.