What is an orthodontic mini-screw?
It is a small screw placed in the jawbone that serves as an anchor that does not move during orthodontic treatment. When you pull on a tooth, the teeth on the other side are pulled too; if, while trying to pull the front teeth back, the molars used as the reference also come forward, things end up different from the original plan. A mini-screw takes this force on the bone and reduces how much the molars follow.
Many people worry, “You’re putting a screw into my gums?” But unlike an implant, it is a temporary device that is removed when orthodontic treatment ends.
When are mini-screws needed?
| Plan | Mini-screw |
|---|---|
| Movement can be completed with brackets alone | Not placed |
| Front teeth must be pulled back a lot into extraction spaces while the molars stay nearly still | Reinforces the anchor |
| Teeth must be moved up into the gums (intrusion) | Used as an anchor to pull from above |
| Molars must be moved back | Supports the force pushing them back |
| The amount of movement differs between left and right | Applies more force on one side only |
In orthodontics for a protruding mouth, dividing how much the front teeth and the molars will each move is as important as lining up the teeth. Related information is in Orthodontics for a protruding mouth: do teeth need to be extracted? Orthodontics that uses many screws is not necessarily good orthodontics. If conventional appliances are enough, we do not place them.
Do mini-screws make orthodontic treatment finish faster?
There is not enough evidence to say it will definitely be shorter. They are not a device for finishing faster, but a tool for placing the desired teeth in the desired direction. By reducing how much the molars come forward beyond the plan, they help finish closer to the target positions.
Mini-screws are commonly placed in the jawbone between the roots of the molars or on the palate side. If the space between the tooth roots is narrow, we change the position or choose another method.
Does it hurt to have a mini-screw placed?
They are placed after local anesthesia, which reduces pain during the procedure. When the anesthesia wears off, there may be throbbing or a foreign-body sensation for a few days, and this varies by location and person. I do not tell you it will not hurt at all. Instead, I let you know in advance about the discomfort afterward and how to clean around it. Removing it when orthodontic treatment is finished is usually simple.
If a mini-screw comes out, has the orthodontic treatment failed?
No. They can loosen or come out during treatment; reports vary, but it is known to happen with about 1–2 out of 10. If one comes out, we place it again in a different spot, or we change the way force is applied and the plan.
The placement position, the condition of the surrounding bone and gums, and the distance from the tooth roots affect stability, and if it touches a root, the risk of failure increases. The surrounding gum can swell or develop minor inflammation, so it is important to keep the area clean with a soft toothbrush.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
I do not start by counting how many. I first plan which teeth to move and by how much, and which teeth must stay still, and I place an anchor when that picture cannot be completed with brackets alone. The position is decided by looking at the bone and the space between the roots. An orthodontic mini-screw is ₩100,000 (as of September 2026, Full fee list).
If you have been told elsewhere that you need one, ask which teeth it is meant to move and how the plan would change without it. For cases planned together with extractions, see Why teeth are extracted for orthodontics.
Frequently asked questions
How many mini-screws are placed?
Depending on the plan, it ranges from none to several. If anchorage is needed on only one side, one; if it is needed on both sides or both upper and lower, more.
How should I eat on the day a mini-screw is placed?
After the anesthesia wears off, eat soft foods, and do not chew hard foods forcefully on the screw side. For the first few days, gently clean around it with a soft toothbrush.
What happens to the spot where a mini-screw was removed?
The small hole usually heals as the gum covers it within a few days to a few weeks. It is rare to need stitches.
Should I come in right away if a mini-screw is loose?
Yes, please contact us rather than waiting for your next appointment. A loose screw cannot take force properly, and the surrounding gum tends to swell. We will check whether to move it or change the plan.
