Use of Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) in the UK for anterior open bite (AOB) correction: a national survey

Abstract In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in TADs as a source of anchorage reinforcement in Orthodontics. On the other hand, the extent of the use of these devices for vertical anchorage in anterior open bite (AOB) treatment amongst orthodontists in the UK is unknown, especially among consultants and specialists who as well as providing care are responsible for teaching and passing clinical knowledge to the next generation of orthodontists. This survey aimed to identify how widely TADs are used in the treatment of AOB in the UK and to investigate the most important orthodontic diagnostic criteria for orthodontists in the treatment planning for AOB correction by using a short online questionnaire through the British orthodontic society (BOS). The response rate was 13.5% (134 out of 991) Among those 49 (36.5%) use TADs for vertical anchorage in the treatment of mild to moderate AOB, while 85 (63.4%) do not use them. Of those who use TADs, only 13 (26.5%) participants use them routinely and 35 (71.4%) use them occasionally, one responder did not complete this question. The results of this survey show that the use of TADs in the treatment of AOB cases in the UK is limited and the proportion of orthodontists using TADs routinely in AOB is very low (9.7%). The most important diagnostic criterion in treatment planning is ‘Vertical skeletal discrepancy’. The second diagnostic criterion is ‘Vertical skeletal discrepancy’. The third and fourth diagnostic criterion were ‘AOB in mms’ and ‘Age of patient’ respectively. At the bottom of the preference diagnostic criterion is ‘Anteroposterior skeletal discrepancy’ and ‘Upper and lower incisor inclination’