The Use of Microimplants in Lingual Orthodontic Treatment

Irrespective of the appliance used, anchorage control in orthodontics has always been a key requirement for successful orthodontic treatment. Conventionally anchorage is derived from dental, muscular, or skeletal components of the dentofacial complex and is often dependent on a high degree of patient compliance. The recent development of the microscrew implant has provided the clinician with a source of rigid, stationary bony anchorage not dependent on patient compliance. These screws are not osseointegrated and are retained in the bone on a purely mechanical basis. They are inexpensive and easy to place and remove at sites determined by the malocclusion and the quality of bone available at a specific site. This article discusses the use of microimplants as an adjunct to lingual orthodontics.