What is jaw surgery?
A small percentage of patients present a very severe form of jaw misalignment. Orthodontic treatment alone will not help them achieve a correct bite. These patients are referred for a surgical consultation in order to evaluate what type of surgery might be needed to correct their problem. Orthognathic Surgery (jaw surgery) in conjunction with orthodontic treatment might be needed in order to achieve the desired result.
Jaw (or orthognathic) surgery involves the combined effort of the orthodontist and an oral surgeon. In some cases, the jaw bones are positioned in a way that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a good result with orthodontics alone. The most common problems corrected with jaw surgery include a protruding upper jaw (which sometimes causes a “gummy smile”), a protruding lower jaw, or a recessed lower jaw. Dramatic improvements in facial features, as well as straight teeth, can be obtained when surgery is done in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.
