The Use of Small Titanium Screws for Orthodontic Anchorage

The Use of Small Titanium Screws for Orthodontic Anchorage
May 2003
By: T. Deguchi1, T. Takano-Yamamoto1, R. Kanomi2, J.K. Hartsfield, Jr.3, W.E. Roberts3, and L.P. Garetto3,4
1 Department of Orthodontics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2-5-1, Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700, Japan;
2 Kanomi Dental Clinic, 30-1-MD Minamiekimae-cho Himeji, 670, Japan;
3 Department of Oral Facial Development, Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202; and
4 Department of Cellular/Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Journal of Dental Research
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Abstract:
The use of conventional dental implants for orthodontic anchorage is limited by their large size. The purpose of this study was to quantify the histomorphometric properties of the bone-implant interface to analyze the use of small titanium screws as an orthodontic anchorage and to establish an adequate healing period. Overall, successful rigid osseous fixation was achieved by 97% of the 96 implants placed in 8 dogs and 100% of the elastomeric chain-loaded implants. All of the loaded implants remained integrated. Mandibular implants had significantly higher bone-implant contact than maxillary implants. Within each arch, the significant histomorphometric indices noted for the "three-week unloaded" healing group were: increased labeling incidence, higher woven-to-lamellar-bone ratio, and increased osseous contact. Analysis of these data indicates that small titanium screws were able to function as rigid osseous anchorage against orthodontic load for 3 months with a minimal (under 3 weeks) healing period.