Surgical Orthodontics
What is surgical orthodontics?
While orthodontics is designed to:
- Reposition teeth
- Correct jaw irregularities
- Improve a patient’s ability to chew, speak, and breathe.
With any surgical orthodontic case, braces will be used. Having a surgical procedure shifts the jaw into a new position, which also causes teeth to move. Braces are used to realign the patient’s teeth before and after surgery.
Do I need surgery as part of my orthodontic treatment?
Depending on your age, and how severe your condition is, Dr. Hilgers can determine if surgery is necessary. Patients who may be considered for orthodontic surgery are usually over the age of 16 for female patients and over the age of 18 for male patients, and have quit growing.
How does orthodontic surgery work?
Before surgery, you will get braces! You will have braces for about six to 18 months. As your teeth move, it may seem that your bite is getting worse; however, after surgery when your jaw is placed in the proper position, you teeth with fit together perfectly.
Your actual surgery will take place in the hospital, and you will be treated by an oral surgeon. The procedure can take several hours. The two most common procedures are lower jaw surgery and upper jaw surgery.
- Lower jaw surgery - the jawbone is separated behind the teeth and the lower jaw is moved forward or backward, or up and down.
- Upper jaw surgery - the upper jaw can also be lowered or raised, or moved forward or backward.
In certain cases both jaws may need to be separated, with bone added or removed in order to achieve the perfect alignment.
What happens after surgery?
After surgery it may take up to two weeks before you have healed enough to return to work and/or school. The full healing process takes between four and eight weeks. During this time Dr. Hilgers will continue “fine-tuning” your bite and adjusting your braces as-needed. Braces are typically removed six to 12 months after your surgery. Once your braces are removed you will need to wear a retainer to maintain your new smile.
