Orthodontic surgery may be required to prepare for orthodontic treatment. Dr. Rebong has extensive experience at treating a variety of needs with orthodontic surgery, and is even a member of Kaiser's Craniofacial Panel. Whether it’s to expand crowded teeth, realign your bite, or even remove teeth, orthodontic surgery can help ensure you achieve a healthy, beautifully aligned smile.
Orthognathic surgery takes your whole-body health into consideration.
First, you’ll visit us for a comprehensive exam and consultation with your orthodontist. They will evaluate your bite, as well as the health of your teeth and gums, and keep a lookout for any occlusal (bite) issues that may need to be addressed before or during your orthodontic treatment. Together, you’ll come up with a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs, budget, and smile goals.
If it’s decided that you will require orthodontic surgery, your doctor may explore sedation options with you. In addition to local anesthesia, sedation can help you stay calm and comfortable throughout your treatment, so you won’t feel a thing.
After your treatment plan has been decided upon and you are ready to proceed with treatment, our team will schedule any necessary follow up visits with you on a timeline that works with your schedule. We will work together to get your oral health back on track, one step at a time!
Every surgery is different, so your doctor will provide you with aftercare instructions specific to your case. However, with most orthodontic surgeries, it’s normal to experience swelling or discomfort for a few days after the procedure. You can use ice packs to reduce swelling and take any medications as directed by your doctor to mitigate your discomfort. Also, it’s important to stick to a soft food diet, or any other recommended diet, for the first 48 hours after surgery.
Orthognathic surgery, also referred to as corrective jaw surgery, involves shifting the bones of the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. This procedure is used to correct severe bite issues and provide you with a more aesthetically pleasing smile. When the jaws and teeth don’t match up correctly, corrective jaw surgery will reposition the jaws so that the teeth meet correctly. This can, in turn, improve chewing function and encourage proper speech, and breathing. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea, TMD, and other related oral health concerns may also be able to benefit from orthognathic surgery.
Patients who have severe malocclusions or significant crowding may benefit from orthodontic extractions. By removing as few as one to two teeth, your doctor can make more room in your mouth to prepare you for your orthodontic treatment. As with basic extractions, orthodontic extractions will only be performed when absolutely necessary.
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that tend to grow in later than the rest of our teeth, usually between the ages of 17-25. Because of their delayed eruption, many people lack enough space in their mouths for their wisdom teeth. This can cause crowding, misalignment, infection, and discomfort with your other teeth. Due to these complications, most people choose to have their wisdom teeth extracted when they begin to emerge.
An impacted wisdom tooth is one that has not fully erupted from the gums. This is one of the most common complications related to wisdom tooth growth. If a wisdom tooth is impacted, it can compromise the position and health of the surrounding teeth, especially if they are growing at a crooked angle. Food debris and bacteria can get caught on these partially erupted teeth, leading to a higher risk of a tooth abscess or infection. The dentist may recommend surgically removing impacted wisdom teeth in these cases, to prevent issues down the line.
A frenectomy is an oral surgical procedure where the doctor snips the frenum, or connective tissue membrane, in order to loosen or release the bands of tissue causing space to open up between the two front teeth. The procedure is simple, safe and effective with minimal aftercare. This procedure is highly effective in ensuring spaces between the front two teeth do not reopen in the future.
Impacted teeth occur when a tooth is blocked from properly erupting, and can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, ranging from bad breath to constant pain. Through a combination of orthodontics and oral surgery, we can provide you with the relief you deserve, and a healthy smile that will look as beautiful as it functions.
Depending on the location of the tooth, we will attach brackets to the surrounding teeth, in order to shift them and create room for the impacted tooth to erupt. Once the teeth have moved, an incision is made in the gum line to expose the impacted tooth. Then, a bracket will be attached to the tooth in order to move it into its proper position. If the tooth is positioned in such a way that it cannot be moved, we may recommend an extraction as an alternative.
Orthodontic surgeries can actually speed up the treatment process.
No! You’ll be entirely numb during your procedure, and sedation options can further enhance your comfort. It is normal to experience some discomfort after your surgery is complete, but it can be managed with cold compresses, as well as medications as recommended by your doctor.
Orthognathic surgery is a corrective procedure that shifts a misaligned jaw bone into the proper position. This promotes good oral health as well as whole-body health. After undergoing corrective jaw surgery, patients are able to speak, breathe, chew, and bite properly. During the procedure, your doctor will make incisions behind your molars to create more mobility. From there, they will move your jaw into the proper position. Biocompatible plates and screws may be placed to ensure your jaw stays in the new placement and promote proper healing.
There are many reasons a patient may need orthognathic surgery. If you have a severe overbite or underbite, an open bite, a protruding jaw, breathing problems, speech problems, or chronic jaw pain (TMD), you may be a good candidate for corrective jaw surgery. Also, patients with obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring may be able to benefit from orthognathic jaw surgery. If you’ve been dealing with any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling a consultation as soon as possible.
In some cases, your insurance provider may cover all or a portion of your treatment. This depends on your policy’s coverage. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your dental insurance plan, but we recommend that you get in touch with your insurance provider to see if your recommended oral surgery, extraction, or other treatment is covered.
The most common oral surgeries are wisdom tooth extractions.
