EZC Guidance for Bone Screws: A Chairside Solution

Abstract

Orthodontists, on a day-to-day basis, have started to use bone screws for various tooth movements such as distalization, retraction, intrusion, etc. The most common sites for the placement of bone screws are IZC6 and IZC7 with an angulation of 55° to 70°. Their added advantage is an extra-radicular site with rare chances of failure. Failure of these IZC screws may take place due to improper placement or improper angulation, which may lead to inaccurate ideal final angulation, leading to trauma to the buccal mucosa, and inter radicular placement of the IZC screw. Asymmetrically placed IZC screws on the left and right side of the mouth can lead to alteration of biomechanics. A clinician usually finds it challenging to find a purchase point of the cancellous bone and to place it at the correct angulation, which needs to be achieved for the success of the bone screw. Herein, fabrication of a guide for the accurate placement of the IZC screws, using the basic armamentarium available in a clinic, is demonstrated. The method is economical, quick, non-tedious, and accurate.