What Are TADs in Orthodontics and How Do They Help Move Teeth?
When most people think about orthodontic treatment, they think of only braces or clear aligners as the tools that move teeth. However, in many cases, moving teeth in the right direction also requires something extra to push or pull against. That’s where TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices) come in.
At Life Orthodontics, we are fully equipped to use TADs to help us achieve precise, efficient, and sometimes tooth movements many other orthodontic offices may have told you were impossible. Dr. Robert Lee and Dr. Sarah Pi are well-known for successfully treating complex cases that other offices were hesitant to take on, thanks to their experience with TADs and their commitment to spending the time needed to carefully plan each case for the best possible outcome.
What Exactly Are TADs?
TAD stands for Temporary Anchorage Device, and you can think of them like tiny “anchors” that help us control how your teeth move. They’re small titanium screws placed in the bone, similar to how a piercing goes through your skin.
As Dr. Lee likes to explain, “TADs are like piercings for your bone — when we’re done with them, we simply remove them, and the area heals and closes up like the piercing was never there.”
Why Do Orthodontists Use TADs?
With anything that moves, you need something stable to push or pull against. Imagine you’re sitting in a chair with wheels and you want to roll yourself closer to your desk. If you just push on the air, you won’t move — you need to grab onto the desk to pull yourself forward. The desk is heavy and doesn’t move, so you move toward it.
That’s exactly how TADs work. Teeth move when we apply gentle, consistent forces, but if we only use other teeth to create that force, we sometimes end up moving teeth we don’t want to move. TADs give us a solid anchor point — like the “desk” — so we can move specific teeth exactly where we want them to go.
How TADs Are Used in Orthodontic Treatment
TADs are versatile tools that allow us to treat complex orthodontic issues more effectively. Here are a few common ways we use them at Life Orthodontics:
1. Fixing a Gummy Smile
If you show a lot of gum when you smile, TADs can help. We can place four TADs in the upper jaw and gently pull the upper teeth upward, reducing gum display and improving smile balance — all without surgery.
2. Correcting Large Overjets or “Overbites”
For patients with a large overjet (when the upper teeth stick out too far), we often need to move the entire upper arch backward. TADs placed near the back of the mouth act as anchors, letting us pull the upper teeth back to perfectly meet the lower ones.
3. Closing Large Spaces
If you’ve lost a first molar and want to avoid a dental implant, TADs can help us move your second molar — and even your wisdom tooth — forward to fill that space. By anchoring off TADs in the front, we can move your back teeth forward without pulling your front teeth backward.
What Is It Like to Get a TAD Placed?
Many patients are surprised by how quick and comfortable the process is.
At Life Orthodontics, we place all of our own TADs right here in the office — there’s no need to visit a separate oral surgeon. We simply numb the area, place the TAD (which only takes a few minutes), and you’re done.
Most patients report just mild soreness for a day or two afterward, similar to the feeling after getting braces adjusted. And when your treatment is finished, we remove the TAD, and the area heals completely — like a piercing that closes up when you stop wearing an earring.
Why Life Orthodontics Includes TADs in Treatment
At many orthodontic offices, TADs are considered a “specialty procedure,” so patients are sent out to a surgeon or charged an additional fee.
At Life Orthodontics, we believe TADs are simply a tool to help us deliver the best possible results. That’s why TAD placement is included in your standard treatment fee — no hidden costs, no upcharges, just comprehensive orthodontic care from start to finish.
The Bottom Line
TADs might sound high-tech, but they’re a simple, safe, and effective way to move teeth that otherwise couldn’t be moved with braces or aligners alone. They give us more control, precision, and efficiency in your treatment — all to help you achieve your best smile.
If you’ve been told your case is “too complex” or you’re looking for a creative solution like TADs, we’d love to help.
Schedule your free consultation today at Life Orthodontics in Tustin, serving patients from Irvine, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, and surrounding communities.
