Miniplatten zur temporären skelettalen Verankerung aus Sicht von Patienten und Kieferorthopäden – eine prospektive Studie

Introduction: Temporary skeletal anchorage is a relatively recent addition to orthodontic treatment. Surgical miniplates, modified with intra­oral attachments, provide an alternative to mini­screws for skeletal anchorage. In this study, we wanted to determine patients’ and providers’ perceptions of miniplate use during orthodontic treatment. Methods: Consecutive patients having miniplates placed as part of their treatment completed questionnaires about their experiences during surgery and orthodontic treatment. A total of 200 miniplates were placed for 97 patients. The 30 orthodontists treating these patients also completed questionnaires concerning miniplate success, handling complexity, and whether these devices simplified treatment. Results: The success rate was 92.5 %. The devices were well tolerated by the patients. After a year, 72 % of the patients reported that they did not mind having the implant, and 82 % said that the surgical experience was better than expected, with little or no pain. The most frequent problems were postsurgical swelling, lasting 5 days on aver­age, and cheek irritation experienced initially by more than a third of the patients, but it lessened over time. The clinicians reported that these ­devices were easy to use and greatly simplified orthodontic treatment. Conclusions: Miniplates are well accepted by patients and providers and are a safe and effective adjunct for complex orthodontic treatments