Surgical Orthodontics

Our goal with surgical orthodontics is not only to provide a brilliant, beautiful smile, but also to maximize the functional (i.e. the bite) and facial aesthetic benefits for the patient.

What is surgical orthodontics?

Just as orthodontics repositions teeth, surgical orthodontics (also known as orthognathic surgery) corrects jaw irregularities to improve the patients' ability:

• to chew
  
• to speak and breathe
  
• and for major improvements of facial appearances
  

In other words, surgical orthodontics straightens your jaw. Moving the jaws also moves the teeth, so braces are always performed in conjunction with jaw correction.

Who needs surgical orthodontics?

Generally, surgery is for non-growing adult patients with improper bites and with facial aesthetic concerns. Jaw growth is usually completed by age 16 for girls and 18 for boys. All growth must be completed before jaw surgery can be performed. However, the pre-surgical tooth movements can begin one to two years prior to these ages.

How does it work?

During your pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, which usually lasts 6-18 months, you wear braces and will visit your orthodontist for scheduled adjustments to your braces. Your jaws are then placed into proper alignment during orthognathic surgery.

Surgery is performed in the hospital with an oral surgeon. Parts of the lower jaw, the upper jaw, or even both jaws can be moved to correct the alignment of the jaws and the bite, as well as, significantly improve facial aesthetics. Other facial bones that contribute to alignment may also be repositioned or augmented.

When you have completed surgery, you should be able to return to school or work within two weeks. After the necessary healing time (about 4-8 weeks), your orthodontist "fine-tunes" your bite. In most cases, braces are removed within 6 to 12 months following surgery.

With every orthodontic treatment, you will wear a retainer to maintain your beautiful new smile.

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