Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) in Northbrook, IL

A temporary anchorage device is a small titanium anchor placed in the jawbone to give an orthodontist a fixed point to push or pull against. TADs make certain tooth movements possible that braces alone cannot achieve, and they are removed once they are no longer needed. Drs. Kyint and Evan Chwa place TADs here at our Northbrook office.

The principle behind them is straightforward physics: every time a tooth is moved, something has to push back against it. Traditionally that something was the neighboring teeth, which consequently drifted in the opposite direction, or headgear, which depended entirely on the patient wearing it. A temporary anchorage device provides an anchor in bone that does not move and does not depend on anybody remembering anything.

What Can a TAD Do That Braces Cannot?

Move teeth in one direction only. Without an anchor, closing a space inevitably pulls both neighboring teeth toward each other, whereas a temporary anchorage device allows us to move one tooth while holding the other exactly where it is.

Close open bites without surgery. Intruding the posterior teeth so the front teeth can meet is extremely difficult with braces alone, and comparatively straightforward with a stable anchor available.

Upright tilted molars ahead of a crown, bridge or implant, sometimes without full braces at all.

Correct significant bite discrepancies where the alternative would be headgear, elastics with heavy compliance demands, or in some cases jaw surgery.

Move a single tooth precisely, such as correcting an individual crossbite, without disturbing everything around it.

How Is a TAD Placed?

Quickly, and with considerably less drama than most patients anticipate.

We fully anesthetize the gum and the underlying bone at the placement site, and once the area is completely numb the device is positioned through the gum tissue into the bone. You will feel pressure during placement, which is a different sensation from pain, and the procedure itself takes only a few minutes.

Afterwards there may be mild soreness for a day, which an over-the-counter pain reliever handles comfortably, and most patients stop noticing the device entirely within a day or two. Removal takes a couple of minutes and usually requires no anesthetic at all.

Are TADs the Same as Dental Implants?

No, and the difference matters.

A dental implant replaces a missing tooth. It is substantially larger, engineered to fuse with the surrounding bone over several months, and intended to remain permanently.

A temporary anchorage device is much smaller, sits in the bone without fusing to it, and is designed from the outset to be removed. It replaces nothing and exists purely to serve a specific tooth movement in your treatment plan, leaving nothing behind once it comes out.

Looking After a TAD

Treat it much as you would a bracket, brushing around it at least three times a day, gently but thoroughly, because the placement site stays healthiest when it stays clean. We may also provide an antimicrobial rinse to use twice daily during the initial period.

Tell us if the area remains sore beyond a couple of days, becomes tender to the touch, or if the device itself feels loose. All three situations are straightforward to resolve, and all three are considerably easier to resolve early.

Does Everyone Need a TAD?

No. Most cases never involve one. TADs are for specific problems where anchorage is the limiting factor, and we will only recommend one when it genuinely changes what treatment can achieve or how long it will take.

When a TAD is part of your plan, it is included in the treatment fee quoted at your consultation rather than billed as an extra along the way. Because it is part of orthodontic treatment, your dental insurance benefit applies to the treatment as a whole in the same way it would otherwise. Our payment plans page explains how that works.

Frequently Asked Questions About TADs

Not meaningfully. Expect mild soreness for about a day afterwards, similar to the tenderness after braces are adjusted.

Only as long as the tooth movement it is supporting requires, which is typically several months rather than the whole treatment. It comes out as soon as it has done its job.

No. The site heals over within a short time of removal and the bone fills in. TADs are placed in locations chosen specifically to avoid tooth roots and nerves.

Often, yes, and for many patients that is the appeal. A TAD works continuously and invisibly, whereas headgear works only during the hours it is actually worn.

Ask Whether a TAD Would Help Your Case

The only way to know is a proper diagnosis. Your first consultation is complimentary and no referral is needed. Call or text (847) 272-0600 or request an appointment online. You can also read about the braces and appliances a TAD would work alongside.