Surgical Orthodontics
When dental movements alone are not sufficient
Surgical orthodontics is a treatment that combines orthodontics and orthognathic surgery to correct major jaw irregularities that are beyond what can be achieved by orthodontics itself. The treatment can be used to improve the patient´s ability to chew, speak, and breathe and to improve facial appearance. Moving the jaws requires the teeth to be in optimal position before, during and after surgery so braces or Invisalign are always worn in conjunction with orthognathic surgery.
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Is Surgical Orthodontics right for me?
​Surgical orthodontics can be used to help the following conditions:
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Widen your airway if you have sleep apnea.
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Repair facial trauma or congenital birth defects.
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Skeletal issues causing only a few teeth to contact therefore having a bad bite
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Alleviate facial imbalances such as a small chin, underbites, overbites, crossbites and facial asymmetries.
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Relieve pain caused by degenerative joint disease leading to temperomandibular joint disorders
Overview of the Treatment
Your orthodontist and oral maxillofacial surgeon will work together to plan your treatment in order to obtain the best aesthetics and function.
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Once the planning is complete, your orthodontist will determine if Invisalign or braces are the best options for your particular surgery. The orthodontist will start your treatment and take a 3D ICAT CBCT to enable the creation of a splint used in the surgery.
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Using a special surgery first technique, a patient will often have surgery within one month of starting orthodontics. This minimizes the amount of time that the patient is in treatment for less than a year.
