[The Ball Abutment: new orthodontic applications for fixed and removable appliances. Case series]

Widely used, especially for supra-implant solutions, the indication of attachments is now extended to orthodontics. The objective of this series of cases was to describe three clinical situations in which attachments on miniscrews have been adapted to orthodontics, leading to the development of a new connection: the ball attachment or Ball Abutment making it « semi removable » anchoring devices which until now had to be fixed. A series of three cases is presented. For each case, the miniscrew(s) already in place during the active orthodontic treatment phase is (or are) used with a palatal device (palatal plate or palatal expander). In the latter case, the Ball Abutment, of relatively simple use, is fixed over the miniscrews allowing the device to offer controlled looseness. This attachment allows the clinician to put in place space-saving devices promoting the retention of the devices, at the border between the fixed and the removable device, sometimes less bulky and more discreet, particularly for adult patients. They could be part of lingual technique treatments. Tests are necessary to assess this orthodontic device in terms of materials, design and retention. This connection offers a new range of possibilities and design of semi-removable passive devices that increase the multifunctionality of miniscrews during treatment.