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Special Situations: When Jaw Surgery is Needed
by Alexander Waldman DMD MMSc
While most orthodontic problems can be corrected with routine treatment, other problems require additional procedures as well. When a situation arises in an adult or older teenager in which there is a severe problem with the bite due to excessive or reduced growth of one or both jaws, jaw surgery may be needed to correct the problem. This kind of procedure is called orthognathic surgery and is performed by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.
When this treatment is called for, it is the orthodontist's job to first place the braces to align the teeth and coordinate the widths of the upper and lower teeth. Once the orthodontist has completed the pre-surgical orthodontics, the surgery is performed. After the surgery, another six months of orthodontic treatment are usually needed to complete the orthodontic treatment.
When a patient presents to our office with a problem that may require orthognathic surgery, we will first do an extremely comprehensive diagnostic work-up. After a diagnosis has been reached, we will meet again for a consultation in which the pros and cons of the surgical plan will be discussed. Using the latest in digital imaging, the patient will also be shown what the expected surgical outcome may look like.
Most candidates for surgery are either adults or older teenagers with severe bite problems. If a child has a severe bite problem, we will generally attempt to treat the problem through growth modification, and only turn to jaw surgery if necessary. Adults, and even older teenagers, however, are not actively growing, and therefore have more limited options if a severe bite problem is present. Sometimes orthognathic surgery is the only realistic option.
Surgery is generally not performed until the growth of the face is complete. Therefore, if a teenager needs orthognathic surgery, we often must wait a few years until we have confirmed (through x-rays) that the face has stopped growing.
If you require more information on Orthognathic Surgery, please contact our office.
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Dr. Alexander B. Waldman, Orthodontist |
99 N La Cienega Blvd Suite 301, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 |
Tel. 310.652.1515 |
Fax. 310.652.1717
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Orthodontic Website by Sesame Design™
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