Use of TADs in Treatment of Class II Malocclusion: An overview

The treatment of class II malocclusion during adolescence is an important challenge for orthodontists, moreover, if there are other growth factors that hinder the reaching of a normal occlusion. Maxillary molar distalization is an orthodontic treatment method that has obtained an important diffusion since last years for correcting pure dental Class II malocclusion. In the past, several appliances including headgear, pendulums, Jones jigs, and distal jets have conventionally been used for maxillary molar distalization. However, distalization is often associated with adverse effects such as anchor loss and uncontrolled tipping. The first problem for the clinical is the undesired tooth movement in response to the application of forces for correcting the dental malpositions and obtaining an acceptable occlusion. This is the concept of anchorage which represents the base in every orthognatodontics treatment planning. With the use of TADs (temporary anchorage devices) it’s possible to obtain a good control of anchorage and, thus, to have a predictable tooth movement without the risks of malocclusion relapses. Nowadays, TADs are used to enforce anchorage in many devices, with a great standard of success. The aim of this study is to examine the application of TADs in orthodontic treatment planning and, in particular, for obtaining molar distalization and a proper anterior retraction in the therapy of II class malocclusion.