Surgical orthodontics, also known as orthognathic surgery is a type of orthodontic treatment used to help correct major issues and malocclusions including bad bites and jaw bone abnormalities. The benefit of surgical orthodontics is that it can help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile, even if you are facing severe issues.
This dental specialty focuses on treating complex craniofacial issues involving the mouth, jaw, face, and skull. Drs. Steve Hietanen and Andy Dusel are both proud to be the orthodontists on the Craniofacial team at Oshei Children’s Hospital so when you come to Orthodontists Associates of Western New York for surgical orthodontics, you are in very capable hands.
The Craniofacial Center at Oshei Children’s Hospital aims to help improve outcomes for patients through coordinated care, education, research, and advocacy. The Center specializes in the treatment of cleft lip & palate, craniofacial malformations, craniosynostosis, ear anomalies, and hypernasal speech.
The team is nationally recognized as an American Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) Approved Team and fully approved by the Commission on Approval of Teams as a Cross-Specialty Team.
If you have concerns about the alignment of your loved ones’ jaw, contact us to arrange a free consultation to learn more about the benefit of surgical orthodontics and whether you would be a good candidate for treatment.
Common treatments that fall under the umbrella of surgical orthodontics include:
Mandibular advancement. This means that you have an underdeveloped lower jaw. This creates an overbite. In surgical orthodontics, incisions are made so that the jaws can be properly aligned.
Mandibular setback. Mandibular setback means that your upper jaw is underdeveloped. This causes you to have an underbite. Much like with mandibular advancement, the goal of surgery is to align the jaws to correct your bite.
Maxillary advancement. Maxillary advancement creates a form of underbite that’s known as a crossbite. The incisions for this condition are usually made in the mouth on the upper jaw near where it would line up with the eye sockets.
Maxillary setback. Maxillary setback creates a form of an overbite that’s known as an overjet. This surgery actually isn’t as common as a mandibular setback although it may seem similar to you as a patient. With maxillary setback, overjet is caused by the fact that the lower jaw simply did not grow enough.
Openbite. An open bite is known as maxillary impaction. The benefit of surgical orthodontics is that it can correct the space between the front and back teeth when you bite down. Bone from the upper jaw is removed and placed higher in order to help correct the problem. The lower jaw is repositioned as well.
Gummy smile. A gummy smile means that when you smile there is a large amount of gum that is displayed when compared with others. A portion of the upper jaw bone may be moved and placed higher in order to pull the gums up and lessen the amount of gum that is displayed when you smile.
Chin advancement. Chin advancement is used for patients who have a weak jawline. This can be used to do more than strengthen the jawline. It can also be used to help fix the bite of the patient. Depending on the initial diagnosis, you may not need further orthodontic treatment after this procedure.
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Usually, surgical orthodontics doesn’t begin until between the ages of 16 and 18 years old. Of course, it can also be used for older patients. In girls, the jaw usually stops growing around the time that they are 16 years old. In boys, the jaw doesn’t stop growing until they are around 18 years old. The reason why surgical orthodontic treatment doesn’t occur until this age (or later) is that the goal of the surgery is to align the jaws (which create the bite of the patient). If the jaws are still growing, performing surgical orthodontics would not be able to achieve its stated purpose. After surgery, the jaw would still grow and that could cause misalignment.
Surgical orthodontics is only used when braces and other dental appliances cannot completely fix the bite on their own. Your orthodontist will let you know if you are a candidate for surgical orthodontics.
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Orthodontists Associates of Western New York is proud to offer surgical orthodontic treatment throughout Buffalo, Lancaster, Olean, Hamburg, Orchard Park, and Dunkirk, East Aurora, and Niagara Falls New York. If you have questions about the benefits of surgical orthodontic treatment for yourself or a loved one, please contact one of our 7 convenient orthodontic offices to arrange a free consultation.
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Our reputation as a leader in orthodontic care is based on one thing… Making a Healthy and Beautiful Smile
