Preparation for Successful Treatment with Braces

Oral and maxillofacial surgery may a crucial element to the success of braces. If you are considering braces for yourself or a family member, keep in mind the role of oral and maxillofacial surgery may play:

Extractions

Careful planning and consulting with your dentist and orthodontist should be considered. Normally, extractions in children are not recommended because their bone is still growing; however there are instances where that is necessary. Adults considering braces, however, sometimes find themselves needing a single tooth or multiple teeth extracted first. By the time we are adults, the jaw bone has ceased growing. Often times an adult may need extractions so that other teeth can move into their proper positions. This is necessary when there is crowding in the mouth and braces would have little chance to accurately position the teeth.

Wisdom Teeth

If a patient still has wisdom teeth, it may be necessary to remove certain teeth prior to beginning treatment from you orthodontist.

Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery

This surgery is sometimes called “Surgical Orthodontics” because, just as an orthodontist repositions teeth, maxillofacial surgeons reposition one or both jaw bones. Candidates for orthognathic surgery tend to be those with an improper bite or that their jaw(s) is positioned incorrectly. The result of these scenarios can be problems affecting chewing/digestion functions, speech, oral health, and appearance.

Your surgeon works closely with you orthodontist before, during, and after treatment.  Before surgery orthodontics will be used to move your teeth into a new position.  This ensures that the teeth fit together properly for the jaws to be repositioned.  After braces have been on for a period of time - usually for 6-18 months - orthognathic surgery is performed to align the jaw into position. During those months before orthognathic surgery, it is common to think the bite is getting worse because the jaws are not aligned yet. After orthognathic surgery, the orthodontist “fine-tunes” the bite and movement of the teeth.