STABILITY OF ORTHODONTIC MINISCREWS UNDER CYCLIC LOADING: A BIOMECHANICAL REVIEW

Temporary anchorage devices have revolutionized orthodontic biomechanics by providing reliable skeletal anchorage for complex tooth movements. Among these, miniscrews have gained widespread popularity due to their simplicity, versatility, and minimal invasiveness. However, their stability remains a concern, particularly when subjected to cyclic orthodontic forces that mimic real intraoral conditions. Repeated functional loading may induce subtle displacement at the bone–implant interface, gradually compromising anchorage and leading to clinical failure. Understanding this displacement under cyclic loading provides valuable insight into the biomechanical thresholds that distinguish physiological adaptation from pathological loosening. This review explores the biomechanical principles governing miniscrew stability, with a focus on how cyclic forces influence their displacement patterns and long-term performance. By consolidating evidence from experimental and computational models, it highlights key factors such as insertion torque, bone quality, implant design, and loading magnitude. The synthesis aims to provide clinicians with a clearer understanding of how miniscrews behave under functional forces and how this knowledge can optimize their clinical application.