Paradigm Shift in Orthodontic Treatment with Mini-Implant Anchorage
Since the mini-implant anchorage was widely utilized in clinical orthodontic treatment, the treatment planning for many orthodontic cases has changes profoundly in these years. For instance, original extraction cases can be treated without extraction if posterior teeth can be moved distally with the mini-implant anchorage to gain space; the protrusive profile after anterior crossbite correction can be avoided by distalizing the whole upper and lower dentitions. Another example is that LeFort I maxillary impaction used to be the only treatment option for the adult cases with severe gummy smile in the past, with the help of mini-implant anchorage, a large amount of incisor intrusion can be expected and esthetics can be improved to a great extent while combining with gingivoplasty. These newly observed treatment outcomes have provided grounds for orthodontists nowadays to consider incorporating mini-implant as part of treatment plan, since the application of mini-implant shifts the paradigm in orthodontic treatment.