Esthetic and functional outcomes of a post-ankylosed case - an interdisciplinary approach: use of stainless steel surgical screws for orthodontic anchorage control in an adult patient

ABSTRACT

The use of stainless steel [SS] surgical screws as a suitable alternative to titanium implants for anchorage control in the orthodontic treatment of a 17 year old female patient has been reported. The patient gave history of trauma related bilateral TMJ ankylosis that had been released earlier. She had the stigmata of the ankylotic face presenting as bimaxillary proclination on a skeletal Class II jaw base with retrognathic mandible, typical bird face, increased over bite and overjet and multiple missing teeth resulting in disturbed occlusion and poor esthetics. The rigid anchorage obtained allowed for dental correction. Esthetics and function was improved after active orthodontics; by genial augmentation and prosthetic replacement of missing teeth. Our results suggest that SS mini screws which are extremely cost-effective and readily available can successfully be used as an alternative to expensive titanium mini implants for orthodontic anchorage. This could have significant implications in other developing countries