What Has Been Changed and What Has To Be Changed Using Microimplant?

Controlling anchorage is a key strategy in orthodontic treatment. Various traditional treatment protocols have been incorporated in both extra-oral and intra-oral approaches to maintain anchorage, including headgear and inter-maxillary elastics. However, patient compliance has been considered the “Achilles heel” in managing tactical tooth movement. In an effort to maximize the effect of anchorage while minimizing patients’ dependency, microimplant has been introduced into the area of orthodontics and become a revolutionary way. Microimplants with small diameter have provided better efficient anchorage when compared with the conventional orthodontic treatment. The advent of microimplant in the field of orthodontics has leaded different approaches in treatment planning, mechanics and treatment results. As a result, quite a few of cases that were not able to be treated with traditional anchorage/mechanics could find new solutions using microimplants beyond the realms of traditional methods. Despite causing a few side effects such as infection and root injury, orthodontic microimplants have been already ordinary tools to control anchorage regardless of patients’ compliance in daily orthodontic practice. In this presentation, I would like to share my experience in orthodontics with microimplant and to discuss what has been changed and what has to be changed since emergence of microimplant.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the biomechanical advantages of skeletal anchorage over conventional anchorage.
• Select the proper types of skeletal anchorage.
• Identify the common side effects of skeletal anchorage.