5 Influence of the temporary anchorage device screw shape on stress distribution in the jaw bone

Abstract

We investigated the influence of the shape of the temporary anchorage device (TAD) on stress distribution in the surrounding jaw bone. We used the three-dimensional finite element method to examine four different types of TAD screws (straight, slender, short and conical). The results demonstrated that the different TAD shapes produced significant variations in stress distribution in the bone. The slender type had distinctly higher stress per unit area in the bone than did the other types, and the conical type had lower stress per unit area. Moreover, the diameter of the TAD seemed a more important factor for anchorage stability than was the total length.