Orthognathic surgical orthodontic treatment (often called surgical orthodontics or corrective jaw surgery) is a comprehensive, multi-phase procedure designed to correct severe misalignments of the teeth and jawbones that cannot be fixed by braces alone. This treatment combines traditional orthodontics (braces or aligners) with surgery to reposition the jaw, improving function, facial aesthetics, and breathing (e.g., in sleep apnea cases).
The entire process usually takes 2–3 years and involves three main stages:
Pre-surgical Orthodontics (12–18 months): Braces are worn to align the teeth into their proper positions within each jaw, often making the bite temporarily look worse to prepare for the realignment.
Orthognathic Surgery (1–4 hours): Performed in a hospital by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the surgery typically involves making incisions inside the mouth to reposition the upper jaw, lower jaw, or chin, which are secured with small, hidden titanium plates and screws.
Post-surgical Orthodontics (6–12 months): After the jaw heals (usually 6 weeks for initial healing), braces are used to “fine-tune” the bite into its final, ideal position.