What is Orthognathic Surgery?
The smile is made up of components other than teeth. An attractive smile requires aligned teeth, proportional gums and jaws that fit together properly. Misaligned jaws are not only unattractive, but they can also compromise the joint’s ability to chew and cause discomfort for patients. Patients with various types of malocclusions can benefit from jaw surgery known as orthognathic surgery. This category of procedures repositions the upper and/or lower jaws and may also involve the chin. The goal of orthognathic surgery is to improve the way the jaws fit together. This type of surgery may be recommended in cases of TMJ disorders or sleep apnea that has not responded to more conservative interventions. Orthognathic surgery may involve collaboration between an oral surgeon and orthodontist. The orthodontist will begin to bring the teeth into the proper positions, and the surgeon will step in at some point during that process to work…