What Is Surgical Orthodontics?
Surgical orthodontics is a treatment designed to correct severe misalignments of the teeth or jaw responsible for impairing one’s bite. This treatment relies heavily on surgical and orthodontic interventions to achieve its desired results and requires a highly trained and experienced team of professionals. Not only does this process involve corrections in appearance, but it also supports optimal jaw movement. Although it tends to take longer than traditional braces and other treatments, surgical orthodontics can help address issues not otherwise possible with other methods. It is important to consult with our team of orthodontists to determine if surgical orthodontics is the best course of action for you.
When Might Surgical Orthodontics Be Needed?
Surgical orthodontics might be necessary when traditional realignment methods cannot fix the issues. Serious cases of incorrect alignments, such as jaw abnormality, trauma to the jaw or facial area, or problems accessing proper structure, can typically mean surgical treatment is required for resolution. If other methods, such as braces, are tried, and there’s not enough progress to resolve the issue, then a recommendation from your orthodontist that surgery is needed may come next.
When Is Surgery Necessary?
Surgical orthodontics is typically only necessary when malocclusion is severe enough that traditional braces cannot fix it. These problems can cause issues with chewing food properly or speaking clearly, so surgery may be required to facilitate these processes. Surgery could also improve patients’ appearance by giving them more balanced facial features.
Who Should Consider Surgical Orthodontics?
Patients looking for a more comprehensive approach to achieving their ideal smile may be good candidates for surgical orthodontics. This treatment can be used on adults with severe misalignment issues such as an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite. It can also be used on patients with extremely crowded teeth or large gaps between them that cannot be corrected with traditional braces alone. In addition, people with facial deformities such as cleft lip or palate may benefit from this treatment.
While Garcia Orthodontics does not perform the surgery, we can help you decide if surgery is needed and recommend you to a trusted surgeon in the area. As with any kind of surgery, there are risks to be considered, so all possibilities should be researched before making treatment plans.