Orthognathic surgery refers to surgery on the jaws.

 

This type of surgery is carried out by a maxillofacial surgeon who works closely with the orthodontist.

Sometimes the upper and lower teeth do no meet in the correct way and this is due to a problem in the position of the jaws rather than the teeth themselves.

 

Orthognathic surgical treatments are carried out for functional reasons, dental health reasons and aesthetic or cosmetic reasons. Often it is a combination of reasons why orthognathic surgery is necessary.

Orthognathic surgery is usually carried out on adult non-growing patients (i.e. patients usually need to be over 16 years old and sometimes older than this if still growing.

 

In most cases it is necessary to first have braces on the teeth to put the teeth into a position to allow the surgical movements of the jaw and allow the teeth to meet correctly after the surgery.

 

The surgery is carried out with the braces still in place and the braces would remain in place for around 3 months after the surgery.

 

The indications for orthognathic surgery are:

 

• Large lower jaw (class III)

• Small lower jaw (class II)

• Openbite

• Deep bite

• Long face with gummy smile

• Short face not showing teeth

• Asymmetrical face and jaws

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Dr. Gibilaro has a special interest in treating patients requiring orthognathic surgery and works closely with a number of maxillofacial surgeons both in her private practice and at Guy’s hospital where she is the consultant in charge of the orthognathic clinics.