title: Clinical applications of orthodontic microimplant anchorage in craniofacial patients.
abstract: Microimplant anchors, also known as temporary anchorage devices, mini- and micro-screws, have been used to enhance orthodontic anchorage for difficult tooth movements. Here, the authors describe how microimplants can be used to help treat craniofacial patients by supporting distraction osteogenesis procedures, maxillary protraction procedures, cleft segment expansion and stabilization, and tooth movement into narrow alveolar cleft sites. While most craniofacial patients are treated without microimplants, it would be worthwhile to identify which cases could benefit from microimplant anchorage. As an adjunct to orthodontic treatment, the microimplant offers a potential method for solving troublesome orthodontic and surgical problems such as guiding distraction procedures with orthodontics when primary teeth are exfoliating, addressing residual maxillary cants after vertical distraction osteogenesis of a ramus, stabilizing an edentulous premaxilla, and moving teeth into atrophic alveolar ridges. These cases are presented to open a dialogue on their possible uses in craniofacial patients.
authors.affiliation: Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Amornpong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vachiramon
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urata
authors.forename: Hee Moon
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kyung
authors.forename: Dennis-Duke
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Stephen L-K
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D014080:Tooth Exfoliation / Q000503:physiopathology; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants