Glossary

In dentistry, a temporary abutment (also known as a temporary cylinder) is an abutment used for the fabrication of an interim restoration. The interim restoration may be cemented onto the temporary abutment or the temporary abutment may be incorporated into the interim restoration for a screw-retained prosthesis. Temporary abutments are an essential component in restorative dentistry procedures. They allow the tissue around the implant to heal while also providing an attachment point for the crown, bridge, or other dental restoration. Following implant osseointegration with the surrounding bone, the temporary abutment may be removed for a permanent abutment to take its place. Temporary abutments come in a variety of designs, such as snap abutments and slim abutments, for convenient placement and easy removal. The type of temporary abutment selected for use in a dental procedure will depend upon the kind of procedure, the patient’s oral anatomy, and the type of prosthesis required.

A temporary anchorage device, or TAD, is an implant which is used as an aid for orthodontic tooth movement. A TAD can also refer to a miniscrew, osseointegrated palatal, or retromolar dental implant that is placed to control tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. Temporary anchorage devices are often placed in the alveolar bone or the extra-alveolar bone to provide the strongest orthodontic anchorage. Anchorage as a term refers to an orthodontic reactive unit that resists the opposite movement of the tooth or teeth requiring adjustment. This process utilizes both the biology and anatomy of the mouth as well as the physics of motion. Temporary anchorage devices require an opposing force to work against the teeth needing adjustment and may either be intra-oral, such as another tooth or group of teeth, or outside the mouth as seen with headgear. TADs are often made of titanium as the material is bioinert and durable.