From Volume 8, Issue 2, April 2015 | Pages 42-54
The success of orthodontic treatment relies upon careful treatment planning, for both desired and unwanted tooth movement. The theory behind anchorage reinforcement will be considered and the current means of anchorage support and creation will be described. Methods by which the orthodontist can reduce anchorage demand and measure anchorage loss will also be discussed.
In order for teeth to undergo planned orthodontic movement it is necessary to apply an appropriate force to the tooth or teeth and for this force to be resisted, either entirely or partially. An understanding of this process is an essential part of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.
Before exploring anchorage in orthodontics it is worth considering the basic principle as to why resistance is required for force application to be effective in achieving the desired tooth movement. Following Newton's third law, it is well known that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that forces act not only on the teeth to be moved, but also elsewhere to the same extent, often reciprocally, upon other teeth which are referred to as the anchor units. It is when these reciprocal forces are not managed adequately that unwanted tooth movements may occur, leading to a poor occlusal finish or insufficient orthodontic correction of the initial problem, such as increased overjet.
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