Surgical orthodontics is the combination of traditional orthodontics with jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) to correct jaw irregularities, align severe malocclusions, or improve facial appearance. First orthodontics straightens your teeth, then orthognathic surgery straightens your jaws.

Surgical orthodontics is recommended for non-growing adult patients with severe malocclusions that cannot be corrected with orthodontics alone. Thanks to the new advancements in orthodontic brackets and archwires, most adults can be treated without orthognathic surgery.

During pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, patients wear braces or aligners and visit our office for scheduled adjustments. This phase usually lasts 12-18 months as the teeth become straighter within each jaw. Often the bite looks and feels worse during this stage. However, when the jaws are placed into proper alignment through orthognathic surgery, the teeth will then fit into their proper positions. In the post-surgical phase of orthodontics, Drs. Wenger and Orabi finalize the bite with elastics worn between braces or aligners.