ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY
What Is Orthognathic Surgery?
Orthognathic surgery is usually referred to as corrective jaw surgery. It’ is an umbrella term that covers around 10 different surgical procedures. Jaw surgery is an option for those cases when irregularities are too pronounced and braces or Invisalign alone can’t fix it. The main goal of the corrective jaw surgery is to realign bones in optimal functional and esthetic position.
Watch this video to learn about orthognathic surgery and how it is performed.
Who Needs Orthognathic Surgery and How is it done?
The rule of thumb is: braces move teeth and surgery moves bones. One will need surgery when jawbones are misaligned. A facial imbalance, asymmetry, difficulty biting and chewing, facial injury all of these can be a reason an orthodontist might refer a patient to maxillofacial surgeon. Resetting the jawbones to an optimal position will allow the orthodontist to properly align your teeth to achieve balanced smile. Generally an orthodontist and maxillofacial surgeon will work together to prepare a treatment plan before the surgery and follow up the treatment with braces or Invisalign. The surgery is usually done in a hospital-based setting.
When Can You Get Orthognathic Surgery?
Short answer is - when the growth stops. Generally after 16 year old for females and 21 year old for males.
Why Would One Need Orthognathic Surgery ?
There are multiple indications for these procedures:
-
Severe Class 2 malocclusion with skeletal problem
-
Severe Class 3 malocclusion with skeletal problem
-
Increased Overbite
-
Anterior Open Bite
-
Facial asymmetries
-
Temporo-mandibular disorders ( TMD)
-
Cleft lip and cleft palate
-
Post-traumatic disorders and deformities
How Much Does Orthognathic Surgery Costs?
Orthognathic surgery is an important and a life-changing investment.
Here in ChicagoLand area the most affordable options are Cook County Hospital and University of Illinois at Chicago. Price varies from $10,000 to $20,000 per jaw. In many patients who require such surgery, both jaws have to be operated.
Our skilled doctors are able to treat many patients with severe orthodontic issues without the jaw surgery.
Alternatives To The Orthognathic Surgery
If you have been told that your case requires jaw surgery, there’s a chance you may fall into the category of patients who we can treat with orthodontic treatment alone. At Archer Dental Chicago we offer up-to-date orthodontic techniques and continuously study the latest innovations of dentistry and orthodontics. Our skilled doctors are able to treat many patients with severe orthodontic issues without the jaw surgery.
One of the alternatives is a technique implementing Temporary Anchorage Device (or TAD). With this technique the orthodontist is able to achieve incredible results that are impossible with simple braces. You can read more about TAD Orthodontics here or book a free consultation for TAD orthodontics with Dr. Tony at Archer Dental.