Orthodontic Treatment in Conjunction with Corrective Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery)

There are times especially in adults and “non-growing” patients where the bones are not in alignment. Orthognathic surgery in combination with orthodontics can be used when the skeletal correction is beyond what can be achieved with orthodontics alone or where greatly enhanced facial balance can be achieved by putting the bones into alignment.

A combined orthodontic/orthognathic approach is frequently used when the lower jaw is too small or too far behind the upper jaw. Bringing the lower jaw forward can greatly enhance the patients profile while simultaneously correcting the bite discrepancy.

Similarly the lower jaw can out grow the upper jaw causing an under bite and unfavorable facial balance. Surgery to advance the upper jaw or to set back the lower jaw or a combination of the above is frequently used to again put the bones of the face in balance.

Other times an open bite develops where there is a large gap between the front teeth when the patient is biting down. Again surgery can be done to impact the posterior of the upper jaw allowing the lower jaw to rotate forward and close down the bite. Dr. Gupton frequently is able to use Invisalign to close down an openbite avoiding surgery.

Orthognathic surgery should be used in combination with orthodontics treatment to enable the bite to be ideal after the surgery done. The facial changes are often dramatic as can be seen by the following treated cases.

CL II malocclusion treated with orthodontics and surgery to advance of lower jaw

CL III malocclusion treated with orthodontics and surgery to advance upper jaw