Ridge mini-implants, a versatile biomechanical anchorage device whose success is significantly enhanced by splinting: a clinical report

OBJECTIVES: This clinical report aims to highlight the factors affecting the clinical success of alveolar ridge mini-implants used for orthodontic anchorage and provide an overview of the biomechanical versatility of this miniscrew and steps involving the proper technique of its placement. METHODS: For this clinical report, charts for 295 patients who had temporary anchorage devices (TADs) were screened. Twenty patients [15 females and 5 males: mean age = 38.15 ± 15.10 years] with 50 alveolar ridge mini-screws were assessed. A descriptive summary of the main factors affecting their clinical success and the technique employed for their placement was comprehensively discussed and illustrated, in addition to the presentation of some clinical cases illustrating their potential clinical uses. RESULTS: The survival duration (7.32 ± 9.01 months) and clinical success of the alveolar ridge mini-implants that failed (19/50) seem to be affected primarily by 2 factors: splinting; none of the splinted mini-implants failed (0/10) compared to (19/40) of the single mini-implants that failed, and the length of the used mini-implant; the average length of the mini-implants that did not fail was 9.23 mm. Additionally, it appears that these mini-implants are biomechanically robust and durable, those that did not fail had an average survival duration of 35.97 ± 19.79 months. CONCLUSION: Ridge mini-implants offer significant biomechanical versatility in patients with partially edentulous ridges needing complex pre-prosthetic orthodontic movements. The presence of splinting and the length of the used mini-implants are factors that might affect the clinical success of the alveolar ridge mini-implants.