Attaching orthodontic wires, cantilevers and loops to orthodontic miniscrew heads presents problems. The present article describes a novel design, called TAD-Lorgnette, to address these problems. Using this design, the clinician will feel more confident attaching cantilever springs and loops to either cross head slot or rounded/mushroom-shaped miniscrew heads. Titanium-molybdenum alloy wires (0.017 x 0.025) were bent to act as cantilevers to deliver low load/deflection forces and were attached to the teeth from one side and to miniscrew heads from the other in a design similar to that of a lorgnette, hence the name TAD-Lorgnette. This is a novel design that is simple and secure and can connect any miniscrew system with orthodontic springs effectively and with superior retention. This superior retention to the miniscrew head is due to the exact adaptation of the wire and the head of the screw. The TAD-Lorgnette is useful in different clinical situations for molar derotation, mandibular molar buccal crown torque and for attaching T-loops for mandibular molar protraction. Moreover, it can be used for attaching Class II elastics and T-loops to miniscrew heads. It can also be used as cantilever springs for the buccal traction of transposed mandibular canines and for the alignment of palatally displaced maxillary canines.
Receipt of manuscript: 27.12.2021, Acceptance: 25.04.2022
Keywords: miniscrews, microscrew implants, temporary anchorage device, TAD, anchorage, orthodontic cantilevers, orthodontic springs
