Surgical Orthodontics
Just as orthodontics repositions teeth, orthognathic surgery corrects jaw irregularities to improve the patient’s ability to chew, speak, and breathe, and also for improved facial appearances. In other words, orthognathic surgery straightens your jaw. Moving the jaws also moves the teeth, so braces are almost always performed in conjunction with jaw correction surgery. This helps make sure teeth are in their proper positions after surgery.
An orthognathic surgery should be performed by a qualified maxillofacial surgeon or a plastic surgeon with the help of an orthodontist. Typically, a patient is required to wear braces before and after this procedure and retainers after the final removal of dental braces. Careful coordination between the oral surgeon and orthodontist is needed to ensure that the teeth fit correctly after the surgery.
While serving as an orthodontist in the Army, Dr. Bedont was able to work extensively with the oral surgeons in preparing soldiers for orthognathic surgery. He attended monthly surgical boards where patients receiving orthognathic surgery were treatment planned and discussed together with the oral surgeons. Today, he works closely with oral surgeons in the greater Portland area in caring for patients that will have orthognathic surgery.
Who needs Orthognathic Surgery?
Orthodontic treatment can move the teeth within the jaw bones, but when the upper and lower jaw do not align well together, orthodontic treatment may not be able to fully correct the bite. When the jaws are too far off, surgery is needed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment to move the jaw so both the teeth and jaws fit together properly. Individuals that have a skeletal discrepancy of either or both of their jaws will benefit from orthognathic surgery.
At what age can orthognathic surgery be done?
Orthognathic surgery is ideally done as an adult, or as a youth when growth of the upper and lower jaw is complete. There is not a specific age limit, but usually the earliest we would want have the surgery done is when someone is high school age.
What does orthognathic surgery involve?
Orthognathic surgery is usually best done in conjunction with orthodontic treatment (using either braces or Invisalign) and the surgery is done after the teeth are ideally positioned. When ready for surgery, a referral is made to the oral surgeon and the surgeon does a virtual setup in preparation for the surgery. The surgery is done under general anesthesia in the operating room or surgi-center, and most of the time the patient can go home the same day. A question frequently asked is if the jaw is wired closed after surgery. Luckily, this is not usually needed; however; a soft food/liquid diet is required for a period of time while the jaw is healing. After 4-6 weeks, active orthodontic treatment can resume and usually lasts a few more months following surgery to get the occlusion perfected.
