Clinical case report: an improved technique for using dental implants as orthodontic anchorage

The use of endosseous implants as intra-oral anchorage to facilitate orthodontic treatment has been reported in the literature for some years, first in rabbits and dogs, and then in adult human patients. The implants were generally used solely for the purpose of anchorage. This paper reports the successful application of orthodontic forces utilizing dental implants to achieve tooth movement. The implants were subsequently used as fixtures in a pre-determined plan to support a fixed prosthesis. A clinical example demonstrates how implants may serve dual roles, for anchorage and then for fixed prosthetic support. The principles involved in using dental implants as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to dental treatment are illustrated.