Surgical Orthodontics

Surgical orthodontics is a combination of orthodontic treatment (with braces) and orthognathic surgery to correct a malocclusion.

Who needs surgical orthodontics?

Patients who have severe skeletal discrepancies between their upper and lower jaws generally benefit from surgical orthodontics. The majority of skeletal growth should be finished before orthognathic surgery is performed.

Jaw growth is usually completed by age 16 for girls and 18 for boys, but treatment can begin 12 to 18 months prior, since the pre-surgical movement phase can be performed while the patient is still growing.

How does it work?

Surgical orthodontics starts just like regular orthodontics: You get braces! For the next nine to 12 months, your braces will work to straighten, level, and align the teeth.

However, because the jaws are not lined up properly, the way your teeth fit together will actually get worse. Then, when an orthodontist and oral surgeon feel you are ready, orthognathic surgery will be performed on one or both jaws to properly line up your teeth and give you the best facial balance/aesthetics possible.

After the surgery, Dr. Budd or Dr. Yen will need a few months to do some final “detailing” to make everything perfect. The braces will remain on your teeth before, during, and after the surgery.