Orthognathic Surgery: diagnosis, function and long-term planning
Orthognathic Surgery is considered when a skeletal jaw discrepancy causes functional bite, chewing, speech, airway or facial-balance concerns that orthodontics alone cannot correct.
The surgical movements must be based on stable dental decompensation, three-dimensional skeletal analysis, airway and joint review and agreed functional and appearance goals.
Who may be considered?
Specialist review may help when jaw position rather than tooth position is the major cause of malocclusion or asymmetry.
- Severe underbite, overbite, open bite or asymmetry.
- Skeletal discrepancy affecting chewing or speech.
- Selected airway-related craniofacial restriction.
- A medically and psychologically prepared patient completing orthodontic preparation.
What the specialist team must confirm
Review clinical facial and intraoral examination, cephalometric and panoramic imaging, CBCT when indicated, digital dental models, airway and TMJ symptoms, speech, photographs, orthodontic records and expectations.
Key points for this treatment
From skeletal diagnosis to stable functional occlusion
The timeline must include orthodontics before and after surgery, nutrition, return to work and local emergency support.
Swelling improves faster than nerve sensation and bite maturation
Diet progression, oral hygiene, swelling control, jaw movement and elastics are individualized while bone heals.
Orthodontic finishing, retention, nerve recovery, TMJ symptoms, airway and skeletal stability are assessed over months.
Risks, limits and realistic expectations
Risks include bleeding, infection, relapse, malocclusion, tooth or root injury, nasal change, TMJ symptoms, hardware problems and temporary or permanent nerve numbness.
Breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, rapidly increasing swelling, fever, inability to take fluids or sudden bite change needs urgent surgical care.