The information below was taken from aaoinfo.org
Who needs surgical orthodontics?
Surgical orthodontics may be necessary for someone whose upper and lower jaws, which hold the teeth, are out of position. Consequently, the upper and lower teeth don’t fit, impairing the ability to bite, chew or speak.
What causes the need for surgery?
Sometimes the root cause is genetic – as you were growing, your upper and lower jaws grew out of proportion to each other, and that can keep upper and lower teeth from meeting as they should, making it hard to bite, chew or speak. Other causes can be linked to birth defects or injuries to the jaw or environmental causes.
Which comes first – surgery or orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment usually comes before surgical orthodontics. The purpose is to align teeth so that they fit correctly after surgery is performed. Orthodontic treatment continues for a time after surgery to bring teeth into their final, optimal positions for good function.
Is surgical orthodontics performed only on adults?
Surgical orthodontics is performed on patients who have finished growing.
Can surgery by itself align teeth and jaws?
It is highly unlikely that surgery alone can correct both misaligned teeth and misaligned jaws.
Is the surgery performed by the orthodontist, or by an oral surgeon?
Surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who works in conjunction with your orthodontist. The two specialists work as a team to design and execute your plan of care.
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