ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY (CORRECTIVE AND COSMETIC JAW SURGERY)
In some patients, orthodontics (braces) alone will not align the teeth and jaws into a harmonious and esthetically pleasing position. In those instances, orthognathic surgery is required to surgically reposition the upper and/or lower jaws into a correct anatomic position in relation to the remainder of the face. The upper or lower jaw is precisely cut and moved into a new appropriate position and stabilized with mini-plates. The surgeon can control the position of the jaws in all three dimensions of space to achieve a functional and esthetically pleasing result. In conjunction with upper and lower jaw surgery, other bony structures of the face can be augmented. The chin and cheek bones can be enhanced or reduced, depending on the patient's needs. Facial asymmetries can be corrected with orthognathic surgery, bony augmentation, and/or facial implants. Each individual patient has specific needs and a treatment plan can be formulated after a thorough clinical and radiographic examination.