Anchorage in orthodontics refers to the use of resistance to prevent unwanted tooth movement, which is crucial for achieving desired treatment outcomes. Traditionally, methods such as intraoral, intermaxillary, and extraoral anchorage have been employed, each with its advantages and limitations. Intraoral anchorage, while commonly used, tends to be less effective than other methods and can negatively impact oral hygiene. Intermaxillary and extraoral methods, on the other hand, rely heavily on patient cooperation, making consistent results harder to achieve.
To overcome these challenges, orthodontists began utilizing anchor screws and anchorage plates as reliable sources of anchorage, allowing for more complex tooth movement patterns. The concept of using screws for anchorage emerged in the 1980s when Creekmore and Eklund published a case report on this technique. Shortly thereafter, Roberts et al. introduced the use of dental implants in the posterior mandible for mesial molar movement. In Japan, Kanomi was the first to report on the use of anchor screws, sparking widespread clinical and basic research on the topic.
Our department previously published clinical data on the use of anchor screws and plates from 2004 to 2013, marking the first comprehensive report on this technique. Since then, the use of anchor screws and plates has significantly broadened the range of orthodontic treatments. With the approval of anchor screws for pharmaceutical use in 2012, the number of available mechanics has expanded, leading to more diverse treatment approaches.
A 2016 report by Masuyama et al. reviewed the use of anchor screws over a five-year period. However, there remains a gap in literature regarding long-term usage patterns, particularly following the inclusion of anchor screws under public health insurance coverage. To address this, we conducted a new clinical survey to assess the usage trends of anchor screws and plates from 2014 to 2021, comparing the findings with our initial 2004-2013 report. This study aims to identify evolving trends and applications of these anchorage devices over a seven-year span.
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