TAD Orthodontics
TAD Orthodontics in Auckland
Precision Mechanics for Complex Cases
Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) are small titanium mini-implants used as temporary anchor points during selected orthodontic treatments. They can help an orthodontist control movements that may be difficult to achieve using teeth alone as anchorage.
Depending on the diagnosis, TADs may assist with gummy-smile correction, open-bite mechanics, space closure, molar movement, impacted teeth or other complex movements. They do not guarantee a non-surgical result, shorter treatment or greater stability, and they are recommended only when the expected benefit justifies the procedure.
Dr Adith Venugopal has extensive research and teaching experience in TAD-based biomechanics and applies that knowledge to individual treatment planning at Parnell Orthodontics.
What is a TAD?
A TAD is a small titanium mini-implant placed temporarily in the jawbone under local anaesthetic. It provides an anchor point from which a controlled orthodontic force can be applied. Conventional mechanics often use one group of teeth to help move another; a TAD can reduce unwanted movement of those anchor teeth in selected situations.
Placement and removal are usually brief. Experiences vary, so Dr Adith will explain the proposed site, expected sensations, aftercare, risks, alternatives and how long the TAD is likely to remain in place.
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 upper 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. This provides many patients, who would otherwise require jaw surgery, the opportunity to achieve highly satisfactory orthodontic outcomes.
Anchorage-critical space closure involves closing extraction spaces or congenitally missing tooth sites without allowing the teeth behind the gap to drift forward uncontrolled. This is precisely a bio-mechanical 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 gentle controlled orthodontic forces to teeth that are stuck in the bone or gum, guiding them into correct position in the arch.
Meet our Specialist Orthodontist ...
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.
