Modified miniplates for temporary skeletal anchorage in orthodontics: placement and removal surgeries.
OBJECTIVE
Skeletal anchorage systems are increasingly used in orthodontics. This article describes the techniques of placement and removal of modified surgical miniplates used for temporary orthodontic anchorage and reports surgeons' perceptions of their use.


METHODS
We enrolled 97 consecutive orthodontic patients having miniplates placed as an adjunct to treatment. A total of 200 miniplates were placed by 9 oral surgeons. Patients and surgeons completed questionnaires after placement and removal surgeries.


RESULTS
Fifteen miniplates needed to be removed prematurely. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were generally prescribed after placement but not after removal surgery. Most surgeries were performed with the patient under local anesthesia. Placement surgery lasted on average between 15 and 30 minutes per plate and was considered by the surgeons to be very easy to moderately easy. The surgery to remove the miniplates was considered easier and took less time. The patients' chief complaint was swelling, lasting on average 5.3 +/- 2.8 days after placement and 4.5 +/- 2.6 days after removal.


CONCLUSIONS
Although miniplate placement/removal surgery requires the elevation of a flap, this was considered an easy and relatively short surgical procedure that can typically be performed with the patient under local anesthesia without complications, and it may be considered a safe and effective adjunct for orthodontic treatment.
Experimental Morphology Unit and Department of Orthodontics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. marie.cornelis@uclouvain.be
Marie A
MA
Cornelis
Nicole R
NR
Scheffler
Pierre
P
Mahy
Sergio
S
Siciliano
Hugo J
HJ
De Clerck
J F Camilla
JF
Tulloch
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000601:surgery*; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008904:Miniaturization; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires