Orthognathic Surgery
Surgical orthodontic treatment is a type of orthodontic treatment used to correct severe cases when jaw bone discrepancies are present and when a proper bite cannot be achieved with orthodontic treatment alone. In order to receive orthognathic surgery, the jaw must be done growing. Jaw growth is typically completed by age sixteen in females and age eighteen in males.
Braces are usually placed 9-18 months before orthognathic surgery occurs and this will prepare your teeth and jaws for the procedure. Surgery is performed in the hospital by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and can take several hours depending on each individual case. Once the surgery is completed, you will have approximately a two-week rest period before going back to work or school. After your jaw has healed (4-8 weeks), braces are kept on for an additional six to twelve months following surgery to move your teeth in its final desirable position. After your braces are removed, retainers will be delivered to maintain your new smile.