The surgery can involve repositioning the maxilla (upper jaw), the mandible (lower jaw), or both jaws, to provide optimum alignment and a balanced facial appearance. The procedure is generally performed inside the mouth, leaving no scars on the face.
Orthognathic surgery is considered as a treatment option when an individual's bite cannot be fully and adequately corrected with orthodontics. Without surgery, teeth may have to be extracted from the normal jaw and remaining teeth pushed back to allow the teeth to meet correctly upon closing. This ultimately results in an abnormal facial appearance. Orthognathic surgery repositions the abnormal jaw to correct the bite, thereby creating a normal jaw and its teeth while enhancing facial appearance.
The Orthognathic Team
Orthognathic Treatment Plan
The Orthognathic Process
The Piper team includes an orthognathic coordinator who makes sure, from the first visit, that each patient is well informed about the entire process. In addtion to working closely with the patient, the orthognathic coordinator serves as a liaison between the orthodontist and Dr. Piper, seeing to it that all patient data is communicated between the doctors in an efficient and timely manner.
Each orthognathic patient is provided with a surgery guide booklet which helps in the preparation for surgery and recovery.
A few weeks before surgery, Dr. Piper will perform "mock" surgery on a study model and discuss the details of the procedure with patient and family.
Actual surgery may take a few hours. The hospital stay will vary depending upon the type and extent of the surgery. Most patients are discharged in 2 to 4 days.
To aid in healing, fixation appliances to stabilize the jaws are placed during surgery. Most orthognathic cases no longer require that the jaws be wired together. Patients can typically open and close their mouths within 24 to 72 hours of surgery.