Orthognathic Surgery

Orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, is considered when the relationship of the jaws cannot be fully corrected with braces or aligners alone. Some bite problems are dental. Others are skeletal, meaning the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both developed in a way that keeps the bite from fitting together properly.

If surgery may be part of care, Dr. Carley will explain why, what it would accomplish, and how orthodontic treatment is sequenced around it. Braces are typically used to align the teeth before surgery and to refine the bite afterward. The surgical procedure itself is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon; our office coordinates the orthodontic portion of the plan.

Not every patient with a complex bite needs surgery. Growth, age, tooth position, and skeletal profile all matter. The complimentary examination is designed to evaluate those factors and present findings in understandable terms, without pressure to begin treatment.

If you have been told you may need jaw surgery, or you have difficulty chewing, closing your lips comfortably, or wearing down teeth unevenly, request a free exam at 1405 W. Reynolds Street in Pontiac, IL.