Surgical orthodontics, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a type of orthodontic treatment used to correct severe jaw misalignment. Proper jaw alignment is important to the function and health of the teeth and muscles that control the jaw. Serious damage and discomfort can result from jaws that don’t align or functional normal.
When you visit our Houston orthodontic office, Dr. Hall will evaluate the alignment of your upper and lower jaw using advanced digital imagery to determine what corrective orthodontic treatment options exist. Only after all options have been examined do we recommend surgical orthodontics.
When might surgical orthodontics be needed?
Jaw alignment can usually only be achieved with orthognathic surgery. Orthodontics with braces or aligners is limited to tooth alignment only. While we can sometimes offer alternatives to traditional orthognathic surgery, we do not advocate or recommend camouflage treatment, as they are compromised and sometimes have more associated risks than surgery.
Malocclusions that may require surgical intervention include:
- Moderate to severe overbites or underbites
- Open bites
- Cross bites
How does orthognathic surgery work?
If you are a candidate for orthognathic surgery, you will typically require six to 12 months of pre-surgical orthodontic alignment. Then, while still in orthodontics/braces, the surgical alignment of the jaws is done. All incisions are inside the mouth with little to no scarring of the tissues.
Most patients are finished with orthodontics three to six months after the surgical date. Additionally, most of our surgical jaw cases do not require the jaws to be "wired" together to encourage functional healing post-surgery.
How Surgical Orthodontics work at Tom F. Hall, DDS, MS
We are one of the best orthodontists in Houston for orthognathic surgery because of our experience with hundreds of surgical cases and choice of braces combined with surgery. Our orthognathic surgery patients can choose from a selection of traditional “outside” braces or Incognito® lingual “inside” braces for their surgical pre alignment. Tom F. Hall, DDS, MS is the only orthodontist in Houston that offers lingual braces for orthognathic surgery patients. In fact, Dr. Hall is an elite provider of lingual braces in the United States.
We are happy to answer any questions that you may have, and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your care. Whether you need orthodontic treatment to correct a bad bite, malocclusion, or jaw abnormality, orthognathic surgery can help restore your confidence and leave you smiling with confidence for many years to come.
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