Headgear?

Temporary Anchorage Devices (orthodontic implants) are alternatives to Headgear.

Many people remember with horror having to wear headgear as children. Headgear stick out of your mouth and wrap around the back of your neck or the top of your head, and sometimes both.

Headgear work very well when they are worn properly. Unfortunately, most children prefer not to wear them as much each day as they need to and so there is usually a struggle between the parents and doctor and child patient.

Temporary Anchorage Devices or TADs are modified from dental implants to be removable when they are no longer needed.

Made out of titanium, they permit movement of teeth in ways that were previously extremely difficult or impossible without surgery. TAD can help correct deep bites, open bites, protrusive incisors, and molars that have erupted abnormally.

Many different appliances have been developed to treat jaw discrepancies such as small lower jaw and normal upper jaw (Class II malocclusion). Now TAD treatment can more easily and predictably treat these problems.

Placement of Temporary Anchorage Devices is quick and nearly painless. We almost always place them using no shots, just a topical anesthestic gel.