What is surgical orthodontics?
Just as orthodontics repositions teeth, surgical orthodontics (also known as orthognathic surgery and/or jaw surgery) corrects jaw irregularities to improve the patient's ability to chew, speak and breathe. It also improves facial appearance. This requires a team effort between our doctors and an oral surgeon. Moving the jaw also moves the teeth, and braces are always needed in conjunction with surgical orthodontics. This helps make sure that the teeth are in their proper positions after surgery.
Lower Jaw Moved Forward |
Lower Jaw Moved Back |
Who is a candidate for surgical orthodontics?
Our doctors will consider surgical orthodontic treatment for nongrowing patients with improper bites due to jaw irregularities, and those with facial esthetic concerns.
Jaw growth is usually completed by age sixteen for girls and eighteen for boys. All growth must be completed before jaw surgery can be performed. The presurgical tooth movements, however, begin one to two years prior to the surgery. During the orthodontic phase of treatment, which usually lasts twelve to eighteen months, the patient will wear braces and visit our doctors with scheduled adjustments of the braces. As the patients teeth move with braces, the bite will get worse rather then get better. When the jaws are placed into proper alignment during the orthognathic surgery phase however, the teeth will then fit into their proper positions.
These surgeries are performed in a hospital or same day surgical center by an oral surgeon. Patient's are fully asleep during the procedure and are usually kept in the surgical center for one to two days in order to make sure everything is alright before they are sent home.
When surgery is completed, the patient should be able to return to school or work within two weeks. After the necessary healing time (about four to six weeks) our doctors will fine-tune the bite. In most cases, braces are removed within three to six months following surgery. After braces are removed, the patient will wear retainers to maintain their beautiful smile.
Surgical orthodontics is an involved process but yields spectacular results, both for your teeth and facial appearance.