Orthognathic Corrective Surgery

Repairing Smiles Seamlessly

Realign Jaw Irregularities With Ease

Orthognathic surgery refers to corrective jaw surgery, which is used to address abnormalities of the facial bones that support and surround the jaws and teeth. Issues with the jaw can cause a patient to have difficulty speaking, eating, and it often makes them feel extremely self-conscious. Orthognathic surgery is typically used in conjunction with other orthodontic treatments in order to give a patient a smile that is not only beautifully straight, but functional as well.

If we believe that your teeth/bite alignment issues require orthognathic surgery, our first step will be to create a highly-detailed image of your face and jaw using advanced technology. This will not only give us the ability to learn more about your dental anatomy, but it will also give us the chance to explain to you what we hope to accomplish with the procedure. Jaw surgery can be an intimidating prospect for many patients, so at Hart Orthodontics, we’ll do our best to keep you fully informed and comfortable throughout the entire process.

Surgery Done Right

With the surgery, we’ll either lengthen or shorten a portion of your upper or lower jaw in order to create a more functional and aesthetically-pleasing smile. High-quality titanium plates and screws will be used to hold your bones together in their new orientation and to ensure successful healing. Of course, you’ll be full anesthetized during the entire process, so in essence, you’ll sleep through the procedure and only awake when it’s done. Thanks to our meticulous planning and state-of-the-art materials, most patients experience a very brief and relatively painless recovery period and are able to return to their normal activities within a week or so.

Dr. Hart will determine if orthognathic surgery is necessary for you during a thorough consultation and exam. If it is, you can trust that you are in good hands as he has performed hundreds of these procedures over the course of his career.

If you have a smile that prevents you from speaking or eating comfortably, orthognathic surgery may be exactly what you need. To learn more about how we can help you get the smile you deserve, contact us today.

Orthognathic Surgery FAQ's

During the procedure, you’ll probably have plenty of questions on your mind as well as a few anxieties. Dr. Hart has performed orthognathic surgery on numerous patients and has plenty of knowledge and experience to draw on in order to ensure the best possible outcome. These are a few questions that patients often ask when undergoing orthognathic surgery; take the time to review the answers below and familiarize yourself with the process as much as possible.

When is Orthognathic Surgery Necessary?

Of course, not all misalignments require surgery; many can be addressed with an orthodontic treatment such as braces or Invisalign. But in particularly severe cases, the pressure from an orthodontic appliance may simply not be enough to make the desired corrections. For example, if the upper jaw doesn’t grow correctly, you could end up with an underbite where the lower teeth are far ahead of the upper teeth. In other cases, the lower jaw may not be symmetrical, meaning the middle of the chin isn’t in line with the rest of the face. These are all cases where surgery might be required, although we’ll only make that decision after a thorough examination?

Can I Receive Regular Orthodontic Treatment Even If I Need Orthognathic Surgery?

As a matter of fact, sometimes you’ll need to wear braces in addition to undergoing surgery in order to reach the bite and jaw position that is ideal for your health. Our first step is to figure out the size, shape, and symmetry of your jaw bones; once we have the full picture, we can develop a long-term plan. You might need braces to correct any crowding, poor angulation, and other issues that might have arisen when it comes to your teeth. It can take several months to a year before your mouth is ready for the surgery itself.

What is the Best Position for Your Jaw?

Every patient has a different skull size and shape, so it takes careful planning to know exactly where the jaw needs to be repositioned. After the teeth have been moved, we’ll take impressions of your mouth as well as several photographs and a CT scan. All of this information is fed into a sophisticated program that can show us the exact movements needed down to the millimeters. With our advanced tools and Dr. Hart’s experience, the surgery can be performed as precisely as possible.

How Does the Jaw Stay in Its New Position?

After we’ve made the corrections, we’ll create a few strategic cuts in the bone and insert small bone plates and screws to keep the jaws in place. In some cases, the jaws might have to be held together via braces connected wires or rubber bands for two to three weeks. This is simply to ensure that there’s no unnecessary movement while the bone is healing.

How Will I Eat After the Surgery?

While your jaw is held shut for a few weeks after the surgery, it can be difficult to eat or speak normally. You’ll need to eat liquid or pureed foods during this time. You might lose some weight, but we’ll give you instructions for staying safe throughout the recovery process.