Surgical Orthodontics Treatment
Surgical Orthodontics: Combining Orthodontics and Jaw Surgery for Optimal Results
Surgical orthodontics, or orthognathic surgery, is a specialized treatment approach used to correct jaw irregularities that cannot be resolved by braces or aligners alone. This treatment improves the alignment of both the jaws and teeth, enhancing facial harmony, bite function, and overall oral health. It is typically used for adult patients or older teens once jaw growth has completed.
Why surgical orthodontics?
Some bite issues—such as severe underbite, overbite, crossbite, or open bite—are caused not only by misaligned teeth but also by the misalignment of the jaw bones themselves. When this occurs, orthodontic treatment alone isn’t enough to fully correct the problem. Surgical orthodontics allows us to reposition the jaws to their proper location while aligning the teeth for a functional and stable bite.
The Role of Dental Decompensation Before Surgery
Before orthognathic surgery, one of the most critical steps is dental decompensation. In many patients with jaw discrepancies, the teeth have naturally compensated over time to help achieve a functional bite—even if the jaws are misaligned. For example, in a patient with a skeletal underbite, the upper teeth may have tilted forward and the lower teeth may have tilted backward in an attempt to mask the underlying jaw problem.
During pre-surgical orthodontics, we intentionally reverse these compensations by moving the teeth back to their ideal positions within each jaw—even if that temporarily worsens the bite. This process is necessary to reveal the true severity of the jaw misalignment, allowing the oral surgeon to perform a precise and effective surgical correction.
Although this phase may feel counterintuitive to patients, it’s a crucial step to ensure that after surgery, the jaws and teeth align naturally and harmoniously.
The Surgical Treatment Process
Pre-surgical Orthodontics: Braces or aligners are used to align the teeth properly within each jaw and perform decompensation. This typically lasts 12–18 months.
Orthognathic Surgery: Once the teeth are properly positioned, the oral surgeon repositions the jaw bones under general anesthesia to correct the skeletal alignment.
Post-surgical Orthodontics: After healing, orthodontic treatment continues to refine the bite and ensure long-term stability.
Orthodontic Treatment of Impacted Canines
Impacted Canines occur when the canine teeth Fail To Emerge properly due to factors like Lack Of Space, Abnormal Eruption Patterns, or trauma. This can cause bite issues, misalignment, and aesthetic concerns. Diagnosing impacted canines typically involves advanced imaging techniques, such as 3D CBCT scans, which help assess the position of the tooth and create a personalized treatment plan. Early detection is crucial for the best outcomes.
Treatment for impacted canines generally starts with Orthodontic Care, which may involve creating space in the dental arch, aligning surrounding teeth, and using braces or aligners to gradually Guide The Impacted Tooth Into Place. In cases where the tooth is deeply impacted, Surgical Intervention may be necessary to expose the canine, followed by the placement of an orthodontic bracket to move it into the correct position. This combined approach ensures functional and aesthetic improvements, restoring proper bite and smile alignment.
Life-Changing Benefits
The result of surgical orthodontics is more than just a beautiful smile—it’s a functional, comfortable, and balanced bite. Patients often report improvements in chewing, speaking, breathing (especially in cases involving sleep apnea), and self-confidence. With modern digital planning and 3D imaging, surgical outcomes are more predictable and precise than ever.
Personalized Care from Start to Finish
We work closely with experienced oral surgeons to coordinate every step of your treatment journey. If you’ve been told that your bite cannot be fixed with orthodontics alone, or if you’ve experienced chronic jaw pain, asymmetry, or difficulty chewing, surgical orthodontics may be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Benefits of Orthodontic Surgery
Improved Oral Health
Orthodontic surgery does more than just straighten teeth and fix bite issues; it also prevents many other dental problems. By tackling misalignments and structural concerns right at their root, patients can look forward to enjoying the benefits of lasting oral hygiene.
Enhanced Appearance and Confidence
Through various orthodontic surgery procedures, patients enjoy the best version of their smiles, significantly boosting our patients’ self-esteem.
Every successful treatment aligns teeth and reshapes lives by enhancing overall appearance. This improvement remains crucial in improving social interactions and professional opportunities.
Correcting Bite and Alignment Issues
Misaligned teeth or an improper bite can lead to a range of health problems, from difficulty chewing to chronic jaw pain.
By correcting misaligned teeth and jaw abnormalities, orthodontic surgeries improve the functionality of your mouth and prevent future dental problems that could arise from untreated alignment issues.
Preventing Future Dental Problems
Understanding that orthodontic surgery is much more than just smile improvement is key; it plays a crucial role in preventing future dental problems. By tackling bite and alignment problems, the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and jaw pain significantly decreases for patients.
Types of Orthodontic Surgery Offered
Jaw Surgery
Jaw surgery is a pivotal part of the oral surgery services we offer at PhD Orthodontics, designed to correct irregularities in the jaw bones and realign the jaws and teeth. This treatment improves a patient’s ability to chew, speak, and breathe and significantly enhances facial appearance.
Our team of experts uses state-of-the-art technology to plan and execute these procedures with precision, ensuring every patient achieves optimal results.
Orthodontic Implants
Offering the latest in orthodontic implants, our clinic helps support various dental treatments to ensure patients receive top-notch care. These compact yet potent devices are expertly inserted into the jawbone to secure artificial teeth or other orthodontic tools firmly in place.
Thanks to extensive knowledge in oral surgery and orthodontics, our team can seamlessly integrate these implants, boosting the effectiveness of treatments and patient satisfaction significantly.
Surgical Orthodontics
Our team understands that some dental conditions need more than just braces or aligners to make things right. When jaws don’t line up properly, leading to a serious bite issue, surgical orthodontics—or orthognathic surgery—might be necessary.
The process starts with an in-depth evaluation of each patient’s individual needs to figure out if surgical orthodontics is the best way forward. For those who require such intervention, detailed information is provided about what one can expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Additional Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic care goes beyond a beautiful smile. It also:
• Improves bite function.
• Makes it easier to clean teeth and gums.
• Helps prevent premature tooth wear.
• Supports long-term dental health and tooth longevity.
Get the Perfect Smile with Comprehensive Family Orthodontics & Oral Surgery
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We specialize in transforming smiles and improving lives through various orthodontic surgeries.
Imagine the confidence a new smile could bring you! Ready to start your journey to a healthier smile? Contact us today at PhD Orthodontics!
Questions
FAQs
Surgical orthodontic costs vary by case complexity and insurance coverage. At PhD Orthodontics, we handle complex cases requiring combined surgical and orthodontic approaches, including impacted canines and severe bite irregularities. Our team provides transparent pricing with detailed cost breakdowns during comprehensive consultations, including 3D CBCT imaging. We work with insurance benefits and offer financing options to make treatment accessible.
While distinct specialties, oral surgery and orthodontics work together seamlessly in combined treatment at PhD Orthodontics. Our surgical orthodontic treatment addresses impacted canines and severe bite irregularities that traditional orthodontics alone cannot fix. Dr. Xuanyu Lu’s specialized craniofacial training enables coordination with surgical teams for optimal results through our multidisciplinary approach.
Many insurance plans cover surgical orthodontic treatment when medically necessary for functional problems affecting eating, speaking, or breathing. At PhD Orthodontics, coverage varies by provider and policy terms. Our experienced team reviews your benefits, maximizes coverage, and assists with documentation for complex cases involving impacted teeth or severe jaw discrepancies requiring our specialized expertise.
No, most cases at PhD Orthodontics succeed without surgery using braces or Invisalign. With 60% of our practice dedicated to early orthodontic treatment, we emphasize prevention and early intervention to avoid complex procedures. Surgery is recommended only for impacted teeth, severe skeletal discrepancies, or craniofacial conditions. Dr. Lu evaluates cases using 3D imaging for evidence-based treatment.