Many patients believe that a bite can only be corrected with braces. In most cases that is indeed true. Sometimes, however, orthodontic treatment is not enough, and orthognathic surgery is required to achieve a correct bite.
Let us look at why this happens and in which cases a doctor may recommend surgical bite correction.
What can braces correct?
Braces are designed to move teeth. They help to align the dental arch, resolve crowding, correct the position of individual teeth and form a correct closure when the problem lies with the teeth themselves.
In many cases this is enough to restore a correct bite and an attractive smile.
Why are braces sometimes not enough?
Sometimes the cause of a malocclusion lies not in the position of the teeth, but in the abnormal development or position of the upper and/or the lower jaw. Braces cannot change the position of the jaws - they move only the teeth. For this reason, with pronounced skeletal anomalies orthodontic treatment on its own does not remove the underlying cause of the bite disorder. In such cases orthognathic surgery combined with treatment by an orthodontist may be required.
When may surgery be required?
Surgical bite correction may be recommended for a pronounced distal or mesial bite, an open or crossbite, pronounced facial asymmetry, insufficient or excessive development of the lower jaw, chewing or speech disorders, and also when a stable result cannot be achieved with braces alone.
How is the treatment carried out?
Treatment is carried out jointly by an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon. After the examination and a CT scan, an individual treatment plan is drawn up. In most cases orthodontic preparation with braces is carried out first, then orthognathic surgery is performed, after which orthodontic treatment continues until a correct and stable bite is formed.
How do you know whether you need surgery?
It is impossible to determine this on your own. Only after a consultation with a maxillofacial surgeon, a clinical examination, a bite analysis and a CT scan can it be determined whether orthodontic treatment is sufficient or whether surgical bite correction will be required.
Conclusion
If a malocclusion is related only to the position of the teeth, treatment with braces is most often enough. If the cause lies in the position of the jaws, orthognathic surgery may be required to fully restore function and a correct bite. The modern approach is built on the orthodontist and the maxillofacial surgeon working together, which makes it possible to choose the optimal treatment method and achieve a stable result.
If you are choosing between the two treatment paths, a comparison by timeline, outcome and indications is given in the article Braces or surgery: how to understand what you need. The stages of surgical treatment are described on the service page surgical bite correction.