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TAD Orthodontics Auckland
TAD Orthodontics in Auckland — Precision Mechanics for Complex Cases
Temporary Anchorage Devices — TADs — have changed what is possible in orthodontics over the past two decades. They allow specialist orthodontists to move teeth in ways that were previously impossible without jaw surgery, achieving results that are more precise, more stable, and far less invasive than the alternatives that existed before. At Parnell Orthodontics, TADs are not an occasional adjunct — they are a core clinical tool, used with a level of expertise that is genuinely rare in private practice in New Zealand.
Dr Adith Venugopal is one of the most published clinician-researchers in TAD biomechanics internationally. He has delivered keynote lectures and hands-on workshops on TAD mechanics to orthodontists across more than 20 countries. The precision he teaches globally is the same precision applied daily in Auckland.
What is a TAD?
A TAD is a small titanium mini-implant — roughly the size of a small screw — placed temporarily into the jawbone to create a fixed, immovable anchor point from which teeth can be moved. Conventional orthodontics relies on using one group of teeth as the anchor for moving another, which means the anchor teeth are also subject to some movement in the opposite direction — an effect that limits precision and sometimes compromises outcomes. TADs eliminate this problem entirely, providing a truly fixed reference point that does not move regardless of the forces applied.
The placement procedure is brief and performed under local anaesthetic. Patients typically describe mild pressure rather than pain during placement. Once the TAD has served its purpose, it is removed quickly and painlessly at a regular appointment.
Is TAD placement painful?
The placement site is numbed with local anaesthetic before the procedure. Most patients report feeling pressure but not pain during placement, and mild soreness for one to two days afterward which is managed comfortably with over-the-counter pain relief. The TAD itself is generally not noticed during normal eating and speaking once the initial placement soreness has passed.
What conditions are treated with TADs?
Gummy smile correction is one of the most common applications. TADs placed in the bone above the upper front teeth allow Dr Adith to intrude — push upward — the anterior teeth, reducing the amount of gum visible during smiling without any surgical intervention.
Open bite correction involves closing a gap between the upper and lower front teeth that prevents them from meeting when the back teeth are together. TAD-based molar intrusion is frequently the most effective and stable approach, particularly in adult patients where growth modification is no longer possible.
Skeletal Class II and Class III camouflage uses TADs to achieve significant tooth movements that compensate for underlying jaw discrepancies — allowing many patients who would otherwise require jaw surgery to achieve an acceptable result orthodontically.
Anchorage-critical space closure involves closing extraction spaces or congenitally missing tooth sites without allowing the teeth behind the gap to drift forward uncontrolled — a precise biomechanical problem that TADs solve elegantly.
Molar uprighting corrects a molar that has tipped into a space left by a missing tooth, restoring a normal axial inclination for implant placement or restorative work without affecting the adjacent teeth.
Impacted tooth traction applies orthodontic force to teeth that are stuck in the bone or gum, guiding them into correct position in the arch.
Dr Adith Venugopal
Dr Adith Venugopal is among the most published researchers in TAD-based orthodontics in the world. He is a DCNZ-registered specialist orthodontist, Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago, and a globally sought keynote speaker in biomechanics and TAD mechanics. Every TAD case at Parnell Orthodontics is planned and managed personally by Dr Adith.