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.