Technology and teeth may seem a little daunting together, but we use the latest proven techniques to give you the best care. Temporary anchorage devices, or TADs, are small titanium anchors used in certain — but not all — cases to move your teeth more efficiently and with more comfort. Sometimes they are used in addition to braces, and sometimes as an alternative to other forms of treatment that can be uncomfortable, such as headgear.
What a TAD does
Moving a tooth needs something to push against. Traditionally that has been other teeth, which can shift in turn, or appliances like headgear. A TAD gives your orthodontist a fixed point in the jawbone to work from, so the teeth that need to move can move — and the ones that should stay put stay put.
How TADs are placed
If your orthodontist recommends a TAD, we will go through the plan with you until you are comfortable with it. To place it, the gum tissue and jaw around the site are numbed with a strong local anaesthetic. You are not put to sleep, only that area of your mouth is numbed.
Once the area is numb, your orthodontist carefully places the TAD through the gum tissue and into the jawbone. In a few short moments the process is over. It is a quick and simple procedure that might cause some discomfort on the first day, as you get used to it; most patients report that they do not notice it after that.
Removing a TAD
Once your treatment is over, or your orthodontist decides the TAD is no longer needed to support your care, removal is quick and easy — an even shorter, painless procedure that takes only a few minutes.
If you are curious about temporary anchorage devices, or one has been recommended as part of your plan and you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Request a call back or call (212) 966-9628. We are here to support your needs.