Major Steps in the Surgical Orthodontics Process

When people look at a beautiful smile, the first thing that tends to get noticed are the teeth. There’s more to having a gorgeous grin than just the teeth themselves though. The alignment and shape of the jaw matters too. Unfortunately, the natural alignment and jaw shape that someone is born with doesn’t always lend itself to a beautiful smile. That’s where surgical orthodontics comes in.

Braces

The surgical orthodontics process begins with braces. Because the surgical process will move the jawbone and teeth, it’s important to make sure that the teeth are in the right spots for surgery to be performed. It’s normal for someone preparing for an orthodontic surgery to wear braces for 12-18 months. At the end of this braces treatment, the teeth should be leveled and aligned so that the surgery can take place.

Surgery

Once it’s time for the surgery to take place, you’ll be put under general anesthesia to prevent any pain during the process. The jawbone will be cut and moved into its correct position. Any extra bone needed will be added. Little bone plates, screws, wires, and rubber bands may be used to secure everything in its new position. This can be done to the upper jaw, lower jaw, and chin, depending on what you need. When everything is done, you’ll be given instructions for post-operative care that will aid the healing process. It can take 6-12 weeks to completely heal.

More Braces

Around six weeks after the surgery, you’ll have more braces applied to the teeth. This is to move the teeth into their final position now that your jaw bones have been properly aligned. Expect to have this set of braces for 6-12 months. Once removed, you’ll need to wear a retainer to maintain the results you’ve gotten as a result of the surgical orthodontics process. After all, you wouldn’t want to go through all that trouble for a beautiful, healthy smile only to lose it because the teeth shifted around again.

Surgical orthodontics is far from an overnight fix. It’s a lengthy process that spans years. Still, it’s hard to argue with the results when it’s done well. Understanding the different steps of the surgical orthodontics process can help make it easier to be patient until the final results are achieved. Remember, you can always contact Dr. Maccaro if you have any questions about the process.

Do you think you may need surgical orthodontics? Maccaro Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry can help! Click here to schedule your orthodontic consultation today!