Orthognathic surgery:
The term orthognathic comes from the Greek words “orthos” meaning straighten and “gnathic” meaning of or related to the jaw, hence the term orthognathic, meaning “straighten the jaw”. Orthognathic surgery is surgery to correct conditions of the jaw and face related to structure, growth, sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, malocclusion problems owing to skeletal disharmonies, or other orthodontic problems that cannot be easily treated with braces.
Orthognathic surgery can be used to correct;
· Gross jaw discrepancies (anteroposterior, vertical, or transverse discrepancies)
· Facial skeletal discrepancies associated with documented sleep apnea, airway defects, and soft tissue discrepancies
As our jaws mature through the course of normal growth and development, it is possible for the growth of the jaws to cease without growing completely or over grow than the normal size leaving a disharmony of function and aesthetics.
Orthognathic surgery helps to correct these jaw deformities. The procedure is an interdisciplinary as it requires the services of an orthodontist and an Oral Surgeon.
First the orthodontist plans the treatment and aligns the teeth in the jaws and makes it best suited to undergo the surgical procedure.
The Oral surgeon does the required surgical procedure which is either advancement or reduction of the jaws in both the anteroposterior and vertical planes.
This is then followed up by the orthodontist who does the final finishing of the case.
This procedure brings a transformation to how the patient looks and helps to also boost the self-confidence of the patient by improving his/her personal appearance.