New Invention is Good News for Persons with Mini Screw Braces

What are Mini Screws?

Mini screws or micro implants are orthodontic anchorage devices that are used in situations that require anchorage to pull in the front teeth. Normally, the orthodontist would use the back teeth or molars to pull back the teeth in the front. The molar teeth have multiple roots, and are well embedded in the jaw, making them ideal to be used as anchorage. However, if there are no back molars, the orthodontist will use micro implants, attaching one on either side of the jaw, in place of the molars. Then, rubber bands are attached to the front teeth that need repositioning. These mini screws or micro implants are made titanium steel, and placed using a mini screw driver or a mini sized wrench. Before placing the screws, the orthodontist will have to drill a hole in the bone, so that the implants can be fitted in.  The mini screw will remain in place for the duration of the orthodontic treatment. When the time comes to remove it, your orthodontist will remove it in a minute.

Mini screws are a relatively technology, and not all orthodontist are trained to use them. They enable the dentist to move patient's teeth in a variety of ways and can be placed in the jaw bone, on a plate, as well as the teeth roots.

The only disadvantage that has been linked to the use of mini screws is the pain caused during the creation of the starter hole before implants. Now, a new device invented by Dr. Roberto Carrillo promises to decrease the amount of pain by finding and isolating the exact spot for the insertion of the mini screws. Known as the 'mini screw implant placement guide kit," the device was introduced by Texas A & M Systems, and was formally presented in Huston at the Texas Life science Conference. The Director of Technology Development says that the process of building and testing the prototypes of the new invention was begun about 18 months ago. Before the creation of the kit, implantation of the mini screws without touching the root of the tooth, was a challenging process. With the new device, dentists will able to insert the mini screws in a precise manner without touching the root.

When the orthodontist is not able to create a proper insertion hole for the placement of the mini screws, the chances of touching the tooth root are very high. When the roots are touched, it leads to severe pain for the patient. The orthodontist is then faced with the challenge of having to control the pain, and this can negatively impact the treatment process. This problem has been solved with this new placement kit.

The kit involves the use of a guide when your orthodontist takes X-rays of the teeth. This is placed in the mouth of the patient, and it provides the grid that allows the orthodontist to find his way around the root of the tooth during the mini screw insertion process. Through x-rays, the location of the root of the tooth can be estimated precisely.

The market for these placement kits is expected to be huge, growing with the market for dental implants. Many orthodontists have expressed their excitement over the new invention.