Pre-Surgical Orthodontics

Before surgery, you will wear braces or clear aligners for several months to align your teeth in preparation for jaw correction. During this phase, your bite may appear to worsen, but this is a necessary step for achieving proper alignment after surgery.

The surgery is performed in a hospital or surgical facility by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Depending on the complexity of the case, the procedure can take several hours. The surgeon repositions the jaw to its ideal alignment, ensuring a balanced bite and improved function.

After surgery, most patients need about two weeks to rest before returning to work or school. The full healing process typically takes four to eight weeks.

Post-Surgical Orthodontic Refinement

Once the jaw has healed, your orthodontist will make final adjustments to your bite using braces or aligners. Most patients complete their orthodontic treatment within four to 12 months following surgery. After braces are removed, a retainer is used to maintain the results.

Surgical Orthodontics | Lo Elliott Orthodontics in Prince George

Request Consultation

Surgical Orthodontics at Lo Elliott Orthodontics

Surgical orthodontics, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a specialized treatment that corrects significant jaw irregularities.

Surgical orthodontics enhances a patient's ability to chew, speak, and breathe, while improving facial harmony. Just as orthodontics focuses on aligning teeth, surgical orthodontics ensures that the upper and lower jaws are properly positioned. Since adjusting the jaw also affects tooth alignment, braces or clear aligners are often used in conjunction with surgery to ensure optimal results before and after the procedure.

This type of treatment is necessary for severe cases involving misaligned bites, jawbone discrepancies, and skeletal irregularities. Orthognathic surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, a specialist trained to treat complex conditions involving the mouth, jaw, face, and skull. Your orthodontist and surgeon will work together to develop a personalized treatment plan for your needs.

Benefits of Surgical Orthodontics

Flexible Payment Plans & Financing Options

At Lo Elliott Orthodontics, we believe that finances should never be a barrier to essential health care. To help our patients manage the cost of orthodontic treatment, we offer flexible payment plans and convenient financing with CareCredit.

Learn More

How does orthognathic surgery work?

Orthognathic surgery is a multi-step process that combines orthodontic treatment with surgical correction:

Pre-Surgical Orthodontics

Before surgery, you will wear braces or clear aligners for several months to align your teeth in preparation for jaw correction.

During this phase, your bite may appear to worsen, but this is a necessary step for achieving proper alignment after surgery.
Surgical Procedure

The surgery is performed in a hospital or surgical facility by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Depending on the complexity of the case, the procedure can take several hours.

The surgeon repositions the jaw to its ideal alignment, ensuring a balanced bite and improved function.
Recovery Period

After surgery, most patients need about two weeks to rest before returning to work or school.

The full healing process typically takes four to eight weeks.
Post-Surgical Orthodontic Refinement

Once the jaw has healed, your orthodontist will make final adjustments to your bite using braces or aligners.

Most patients complete their orthodontic treatment within four to 12 months following surgery. After braces are removed, a retainer is used to maintain the results.

Are there risks involved?

As with any surgical procedure, orthognathic surgery carries some risks, such as infection, nerve sensitivity changes, or healing delays. However, these risks are minimal when performed by an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Orthognathic surgery has been successfully used for many years and is a well-established procedure in orthodontic and surgical practices. If you have concerns, our team is here to answer your questions and provide guidance throughout the process.

When is surgical orthodontics needed and what are the benefits?

Surgical orthodontics is used to treat significant jaw misalignment that cannot be corrected with braces alone.

Surgery only becomes an option once jaw growth is complete, which is usually by age 16 in females and 18 in males. However, orthodontic preparation, including tooth movements, can begin one to two years before these ages.

Undergoing jaw surgery can address a number of issues, and lead to life-changing improvements, including:

Enhanced ability to chew and speak comfortably
Relief from jaw pain and discomfort
Improved breathing and reduced sleep apnea symptoms
A more balanced and harmonious facial appearance

If you think you may benefit from surgical orthodontics, request a consultation with our team. We’ll assess your needs and guide you through every step of the process to help you achieve the best possible results.