Vol. 30 – Mini-implants and their clinical applications: The Aarhus Experience

Preface 

Prof.ssa Birte Melsen

It was in a moment of unrealistic confidence that I agreed to write a book on Mini-implants and it is only thanks to Carlalberta Verna and Cesare Luzi that we finally managed the task. In Aarhus, we have been using Skeletal Anchorage since the late seventies and Mini-implants since 1991. The experience was there, at Aarhus, the development of the present anchorage system was founded in collaboration between Medicon eG and our team starting in 2000. The understanding of the tissue reaction adjacent to the “screw” was based on the stress strain calculations performed by Michel Dalstra.

This book, however, would never have been completed had it not been for my colleagues and friends, Cesare Luzi and Carlalberta Verna. Whereas Cesare contributed his experience by means of the cases incorporate herein, Carlalberta edited the original Italian manuscript and added many valuable sections. Without her keen work, this contribution to the use and understanding of Mini-implants might never have become a reality. It is my hope that clinicians will benefit from the practical advice and be inspired by the cases presented in this book.

Prof.ssa Birte Melsen
D.D.S. Dr. Odont Chairman
Department of Orthodontics
School of Dentistry
University of Aarhus
Denmark

Index 

1. Introduction

2. Indications

3. Contra-indications

4. Patient Profile

5. Mini-implants/Screws

5.a. Material

5.b. Thread Type – General Characteristics

5.c. Intra-osseous Components

5.c.i. Form

5.c.ii. Diameter

5.c.iii. Length

5.c.iv. Cut

5.c.v. Tip

5.d. Extra-osseous Components

5.d.i. Transmucosal Collar

5.d.ii. Neck

5.d.iii. Head Designs

5.e. Driver System

6. Placement and Insertion Protocols

6.a. Patient Information

6.a.i. Insertion site selection

6.a.ii. Soft tissue evaluation

6.b. Selection of head design

6.c. Selection of diameter

6.d. Selection of thread length

6.e. Insertion of the Mini-implants

7. Post insertion Protocols

8. Removal of Mini-implants

9. Potential damages related to Skeletal Anchorage

10. Failures of Mini-implants

10.a. Mini-implant-related failures

10.b. Patient-related failures

10.c. Orthodontist-related failures

11. Clinical cases

11.a. Molar Disatlization

11.b. Bicuspid and Cuspid Distalization

11.c. Asymmetric Cuspid Distalization

11.d. Upper Molar Mesialization

11.e. Lower Molar Mesialization

11.f. Upper Incisor Intrusion and Retraction

11.g. Lower Incisor Intrusion

11.h. Upper Molar Intrusion

11.i. Lower Molar Intrusion

11.l. Extrusion

11.m. Molar Uprighting

12. References

Apendix A. Mini-implants as Bone Maintainers

Apendix B. Patient Information

Apendix C. Bone Types