Innovative anchorage alternatives for molar distalization--an overview.

The conventional anchorage design of an appliance for non-compliance molar distalization anchored exclusively intraorally combines an acrylic pad or button placed on the palatal mucosa with involvement of the anchoring-teeth's periodontium. Disadvantages of this anchorage design include the difficulties it causes for proper oral hygiene, reactive forces and moments exerted on the anterior dentition, and relative contraindications based on certain dentition stages and local conditions. In this article we describe alternative anchorage designs, concentrating on types of anchorage that are applied with orthodontic anchoring implants of reduced diameter and length. Such implants offer several key advantages beyond that of facilitating proper hygiene, namely that they cause fewer or no side-effects in the anterior maxillary dentition area, and that a wider range of indications apply to children, adolescents and adults.