Surgical Orthodontics

If you have severe dental or skeletal issues that affect your bite or facial symmetry, you might be a candidate for surgical orthodontics. The expert team, Robert Cuenin, DDS, MS, and Kyle Cuenin, DDS, at Cuenin Orthodontics in Danville, California, has the experience to correct severe issues with oral and maxillofacial surgery. To find out how surgical orthodontics can treat these problems, call the friendly office staff today or leave a request for an appointment online, and the team will call you back to confirm.

What is surgical orthodontics?

Surgical orthodontics, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a specialized branch of orthodontics that combines orthodontic treatment with oral and maxillofacial surgery to address complex dental and skeletal issues. 

It’s typically recommended for patients with severe malocclusions, jaw discrepancies, or facial asymmetry that can’t be corrected with orthodontics alone.

What issues can surgical orthodontics address? 

Surgical orthodontics can address a variety of issues, including:

• Severe overbites or underbites
• Open bites
• Crossbites
• Significant jaw misalignments
• Facial asymmetry issues resulting from skeletal disharmony

These conditions can affect your oral function, aesthetics, and overall oral health. The Cuenin Orthodontics team uses surgical orthodontics to correct these structural abnormalities to improve both your bite and facial appearance.

Am I a candidate for surgical orthodontics?

To determine your candidacy for surgical orthodontics, Dr. Robert Cuenin and Dr. Kyle Cuenin perform a comprehensive evaluation. They assess your dental and skeletal conditions, taking into account factors such as the severity of your malocclusion, jaw size and position, the completion of your jaw growth, and facial harmony. 

They also consider your oral health, overall health, and personal goals for treatment.

How does surgical orthodontics work?

If surgical orthodontics is right for you, the treatment process typically involves several stages. 

Though presurgical orthodontics used to be the norm, Cuenin Orthodontics performs surgery first because of the benefits — immediate improvement in facial aesthetics and decreased treatment times. 

During your surgery, your Cuenin Orthodontics surgeon repositions your jaws and/or reshapes your facial bones as needed. The surgery is conducted in a hospital under general anesthesia for your safety and comfort.

After your surgery, your healing period lasts about two weeks. During this time, the Cuenin Orthodontics team recommends you take time off from work or school while you recover. 

Once you’re healed from your surgery, your orthodontic treatment continues, which involves fine-tuning your bite and ensuring long-term stability. The team provides additional orthodontic treatment with braces or other orthodontic appliances for about 6-12 months until your desired results are achieved.

To complete the process, you wear a retainer to keep your teeth in alignment, helping them avoid any shifting. 

To schedule a consultation with the expert team at Cuenin Orthodontics, call today or request an appointment online. You can expect a follow-up call soon for confirmation.