Surgical Orthodontics

When a person with this malocclusion bites down, their lower front teeth align vertically behind their upper front teeth. Compared with Class II and Class III malocclusions, this is thought to be less severe. Although this is a close to normal occlusion, the skeletal deep bite and open bite associated with class I malocclusion may warrant for corrective jaw surgery.

An indication of this is when the lower front teeth bite significantly far behind the upper front teeth, sometimes making contact with the soft tissue behind the uppers. This condition is known as an class II malocclusion with increased overbite, and it can lead to pain, bone loss, premature wear on the front teeth, and even tooth loss.

When the lower front teeth and lower jaw are placed in front of the upper front teeth, the upper jaw appears significantly smaller in comparison.

• Underdeveloped lower jaw with normal upper jaw.
• Underdeveloped upper jaw with normal lower jaw.
• Underdeveloped upper and lower jaws.
• Overdeveloped lower jaw with normal upper jaw.
• Overdeveloped upper jaw with normal lower jaw.
• Overdeveloped upper jaw with Underdeveloped lower jaw.
• Overdeveloped lower jaw with underdeveloped upper jaw.
• Overdeveloped upper and lower jaws.

Sometimes people’s upper and lower jaws develop at different rates. Disproportions in jaw structure can also be caused by trauma or congenital conditions. When only the teeth are crooked, orthodontic treatment typically does the trick, but when both jaws are out of place, corrective jaw surgery may be required. You may be a suitable candidate for corrective jaw surgery if you have any of the following issues:

• Protruding jaws
• Severe skeletal open bite
• Birth defects or facial injuries
• Receding chin due to small lower jaw
• Excessive tooth wear due to skeletal deep bite
• Unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
• Difficulty swallowing, biting, or chewing due to smaller lower jaw
• Headache and persistent jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain in severe cases
• Sleep disorders due to airway constriction caused by smaller lower jaw
• Inability to make the lips meet without straining due to skeletal problems

The advantages of corrective jaw surgery include:

• Enhancing one’s sense of self-worth
• Facilitated jaw movement (how your jaw works)
• Increased ease of breathing, talking, and eating
• Resolving issues with the teeth and jaw by using a variety of orthodontic equipment (braces, retainers, and even Invisalign)

Beginning with orthodontic treatment to realign your teeth using fixed appliances, the entire process of treatment can take anywhere from two and a half to three and a half years (train track braces).

You will be prepared for jaw surgery when you have completed around two-thirds of your treatment.

Typically, patients continue their orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances for another 6-9 months after surgery.

There will be removable retainers given to you to assist keep your teeth in their new positions once the fixed appliances have been removed. A fixed retainer may also be necessary for some patients.

Your orthodontist will give you specific instructions on how often you should wear the retainers. For the first year, most people are instructed to wear retainers full time, but after that they should wear them during night time.

Wearing retainers is an important part of the treatment success as it helps in preventing relapse of the treatment back to its initial problematic stage.

From the time of your surgery until the end of the few years as decided by doctor, you will undergo frequent checks to assess your recovery.

Preparation for jaw surgery might take a long time. When planning surgery, your doctor will require specific details from you. Some of the many tests and investigations they could use to obtain it are listed below

• X-rays.
• CT scans, or computed tomography scans.
• Teeth and jaw scans or photographs.
• Make a dental cast from your impressions.
• A dental scan could also be performed.

It’s possible that you’ll need work done on either your upper or lower jaws, or even a mix of the both, during your surgery.

Since the procedure is performed internally, no external scars will occur.

• For correcting your bite and jaws through orthognathic jaw surgery. The maxillary or mandibular or both maxillary and mandibular osteotomy procedures including cutting the bone above the teeth to free up the jaws and repositioning the jaws and teeth forward or backward until they meet in ideal position is performed. Mandibular osteotomy (surgical on the lower jaw) entails making a cut behind the molars to free up space for the jaw’s front to shift and straighten. To prevent the bone from shifting, plates and screws are employed.
• Your jaws will be adjusted under the gum using plates and screws during orthognathic jaw surgery. You may need to wear orthodontic elastics while your bite heals and adjusts.
• Jaw surgery can change your facial structure and improve your bite (occlusion). The before and after results of jaw surgery can be dramatic. This is the case after substantial corrective surgery, such as that performed to fix a slight setback of the lower jaw or to reduce the protrusion of the lower jaw.

In spite of the rarity of major consequences, anyone considering jaw surgery should be aware of the risks that exist. Orthognathic surgery’s most common short-term complications include:

• Tingling or numbness that comes and goes; it usually manifests itself on the lips, cheeks, or tongue but can also affect the nose and chin.
• Infection of surgical wounds.
• Adverse anaesthetic reaction.
• Tooth damage.
• Nausea and vomiting.

All of us here at Kigo Dental are committed to providing you with the best dental care available, and we do so with a smile.

Our entire staff, from receptionists to dental hygienists and assistants, is committed to providing you with the best quality dental care possible

From the time you walk through the door and every time you revisit, you will experience this firsthand.

Kigo Dental has a team of experienced and skilled Orthodontists and other specialised dentists who specialise in providing high-quality dental care and treatments, utilising the latest technologies and techniques to ensure the best outcomes for their patients.