Mini-Implants: When Orthodontists are Caught in their Own Web

Introduction: Mini-implants are being extensively used in orthodontics, providing a new field of possibilities for treatment of the cases when a maximum anchorage is required.The procedure is critical during the insertion of miniimplants in the alveolar process between the roots of the tooth, and major complications can include contact and damage to adjacent tooth roots.Objective: The following case report describes a failure because of unintentional root damage after orthodontic mini-implant placement, resulting in longitudinal root fracture followed by extraction of the damaged mandibular second molar.Discussion: Factors which might have contributed to the irreversible iatrogenic injury associated with the use of mini-implants in a diabetic patient submitted to orthodontic treatment are discussed and analyzed.Conclusion: Although mini-implant placement has become a routine procedure in the orthodontic practice, it still represents an intrinsic risk to the process of insertion, which is the damage to adjacent structures.The placement of mini-implants must be carefully monitored, even in those cases which present low risk for iatrogenic injury.However much confident the professional may be, self-confidence in excess often leads to failure, provoking irreversible damages.