Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of implantable devices as direct adjuncts to orthodontic treatment. Whereas the use of conventional dental implants has been researched extensively, the body of literature associated with the more recent uses of implantable devices in orthodontics is relatively small. Currently, a limited number of such devices are used to aid in orthodontic treatment. The options include conventional titanium endosseous dental implants, palatal implants, titanium miniscrews (also known as micro- or mini-implants), and mini-bone plates. Integration of dental implants or implantable devices into contemporary orthodontic practice has the following possible advantages: serving as a means of increasing orthodontic anchorage, virtually eliminating patient compliance issues with regard to wearing of appliances, decreasing overall treatment time, and occasionally permitting orthodontic treatments previously thought to be impossible without surgery.
Clinical significance: This article is a review of the currently available options for use of implantable devices as sources of temporary skeletal anchorage in orthodontics.