The idea of undergoing jaw surgery might sound a bit daunting, but the results can be truly life-changing. Surgical orthodontics can dramatically enhance the appearance, functionality, and oral health. If you’re wondering whether this type of treatment might be right for you, here are 5 key reasons why you may need surgical orthodontics.
What Is Surgical Orthodontics?
Surgical orthodontics, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a specialised field of dentistry that combines orthodontic treatment and jaw surgery to correct severe bite and alignment issues that can’t be corrected with braces alone. Surgical orthodontics is often recommended for individuals with significant structural problems in their jaws, such as overbites, underbites, open bites, or misaligned jaws.
Surgical Orthodontics Cases
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You Have a Severe Overbite or Underbite
One of the most common reasons for surgical orthodontics is to correct a severe overbite or underbite. An overbite is characterised by upper teeth protruding significantly over the lower teeth, while in the case of an underbite, the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth.
Mild overbites and underbites can often be treated with braces or clear aligners alone. However, in cases where the discrepancy between the upper and lower jaws is more pronounced, surgery is usually necessary to properly realign the jaws and achieve an ideal bite.
Leaving a severe overbite or underbite untreated can lead to a variety of problems, including:
- Difficulty chewing and biting into foods
- Increased risk of tooth damage or loss
- TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain and dysfunction
- Chronic headaches and neck pain
- Speech difficulties
- Low self-esteem due to the appearance of the bite
Surgical orthodontics can dramatically improve the appearance and function of the bite by surgically repositioning the upper or lower jaw into its proper alignment. This creates a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing facial profile.
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You Have Facial Asymmetries
Facial asymmetries occur when the upper and lower jaws are uneven in size, shape, or position, resulting in a noticeable difference between the two sides of the face.
Examples include:
- Receding chin
- Protruding jaw
- Cooked or deviated midline (the vertical line that runs down the centre of the face)
These issues are often hereditary or develop over time due to factors such as jaw injuries.
While mild facial asymmetries may not require treatment, more severe cases can cause significant functional and aesthetic problems.
Challenges that come with severe facial asymmetries include:
- Uneven bite
- Difficulty chewing
- Unbalanced facial appearance
Surgical orthodontics is often the best solution for such complex structural dental problems. Surgically reshaping and repositioning the jaws can create improved facial harmony and symmetry. Not only can this enhance the appearance of the face, but it can also improve one’s ability to eat, speak, and breathe comfortably.
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You Have an Open Bite
An open bite occurs when the upper and lower teeth fail to come together properly when the mouth is closed. As a result, a gap, or “open bite,” forms between the biting surfaces of the front and back teeth.
Open bites can develop for several reasons, including:
- Habits like thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting in childhood
- Genetics and jaw development issues
- Certain medical conditions that affect facial growth
While minor open bites may be treatable with braces or other non-surgical interventions, more severe cases often require surgical orthodontics. This is because the problem is not just with the teeth alignment but with the underlying structure and position of the jaws.
Surgical orthodontics for open bites typically involves moving the upper or lower jaw upward or downward to close the gap between the teeth. This helps create proper tooth-to-tooth contact and a more functional bite.
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You Have Sleep Apnea or Breathing Difficulties
Believe it or not, surgical orthodontics can also play a role in treating sleep apnea and other breathing disorders. This is because the position and structure of your jaws can significantly impact your airway.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterised by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. It’s often caused by the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapsing and blocking the airway. Over time, this can lead to poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and an increased risk of health problems like heart disease and stroke.
Sleep apnea can sometimes be connected to problems with the jaw or facial structure. People with certain types of bite misalignments, such as an overbite or receding chin, may be more prone to airway obstructions and breathing difficulties during sleep.
Surgical orthodontics can help address this by repositioning the jaws in a way that opens up the airway and improves breathing. This may involve procedures like:
- Maxillomandibular advancement (moving both the upper and lower jaws forward)
- Genioplasty (reshaping or repositioning the chin)
- Distraction osteogenesis (gradually moving the jaws using specialised devices)
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You Want to Achieve Long-Lasting Results
One of the key benefits of surgical orthodontics is that it can provide more stable, long-lasting results compared to orthodontic treatment alone.
Braces, clear aligners, and other non-surgical orthodontic interventions are excellent for correcting mild to moderate bite and alignment issues. However, when jaw misalignment is severe, the results may not be as stable or permanent.
This is because bite problems are often rooted in deeper structural issues with the jaw bones and facial anatomy. Without addressing these underlying problems, there’s a higher chance of the teeth shifting back out of alignment over time.
Surgical orthodontics, on the other hand, can create a more stable, permanent solution. Reshaping and repositioning the jaws resolves the root cause of the bite issue rather than just moving the teeth around. This helps ensure the results hold up well in the long run.
Is Surgical Orthodontics Right for You?
If you’re dealing with any of the issues mentioned above, surgical orthodontics could be a suitable treatment option. Of course, the decision to undergo jaw surgery is highly personal and should be made in close consultation with your dental team.
Your orthodontist and oral surgeon will carefully evaluate your specific case and help you determine if surgical orthodontics is the right path forward. They’ll walk you through the entire process, from the initial consultation and treatment planning to the surgery and post-operative recovery.
Find Your Orthodontic Surgeon at Simply Braces
At SimplyBraces, we specialise in providing expert orthodontic care tailored to help you achieve your ideal smile. Our dedicated team will develop a personalised treatment plan, whether you need traditional braces, clear aligners, or advanced surgical orthodontics. We believe in making orthodontic care simple, effective, and accessible for everyone. Let us guide you on your journey to a confident, lasting smile.
