Dr. Tammy Meister is one of St. Paul, Minnesota’s most comprehensive and affordable orthodontists specializing in early and adult treatment in and around the greater Minneapolis area. Meister Orthodontics offers Invisalign, early, surgical, and adult treatment, along with offering a variety of options for braces.
What Is Surgical Orthodontic Treatment?
Surgical orthodontic treatment (also known as corrective jaw surgery or orthognathic surgery) corrects facial bone abnormalities, specifically the jaw. Orthodontic treatment corrects malocclusions (bad bites). These abnormalities can cause difficulty with:
- Chewing
- Talking
- Breathing
- Sleeping
Surgical orthodontic treatment corrects these problems, plus wearing braces, will improve the overall appearance of the facial profile. Both the jaw and teeth alignment will be corrected.
Who Is A Candidate?
- Girls aged 16+
- Boys aged 18+
- Adults with aesthetic concerns about malocclusions
- Patients finished with growing
- Growth spurts can affect the results of surgery. Teeth straightening, however, can be completed in the years beforehand.
What Does Treatment Entail?
When undergoing orthodontic treatment, braces move your teeth into their corrected positions. As your teeth move, it may seem as though your bite is getting worse rather than improving. Don’t worry, once your jaw is properly aligned with surgical orthodontic treatment, your teeth will be in their perfect positions.
Surgery will be performed in a hospital by an oral surgeon and can last for several hours depending on the severity of your situation. Lower jaw surgery entails the bone directly behind the teeth being separated and the portion of the jaw with teeth is either moved forward or backward. With upper jaw surgery, the jaw can be moved in four directions: forward, backward, lifted or lowered. With this surgery, bone is usually added or removed to help accommodate the moving of the jaw. Other facial bones may also be altered or shifted to complete the facial alignment.
Timeline
- Two Weeks After Surgery: Return to school or work
- Four-Eight Weeks After Surgery: Healing Period
- After the Healing Period: Orthodontist will tweak your bite
- Six Months-A Year After Surgery: Braces are typically removed
- After Braces Are Removed: You will wear a retainer for the prescribed amount of time
Contact Your Local Orthodontist
If you believe you are a candidate for surgical treatment, we encourage you to schedule an appointment and browse common questions for orthodontics. Please contact us if your question is not currently on our FAQ page. We appreciate your interest in Meister Orthodontics and hope to see you in our office soon!