Malocclusion and Orthodontics

Surgery

Surgery to create better alignment between an adult's upper and lower jaw is sometimes combined with orthodontic treatment for malocclusion.

Surgery Choices

Orthognathic surgery treats malocclusion by restructuring the jaw through cutting the bone and repositioning the bone segments.

Orthodontists may remove (extract) teeth to create more space for incoming teeth.

What To Think About

Surgery may be the only viable treatment for severe jaw-related problems. Surgeons only perform jaw surgery on adults, after the jaw has stopped growing.

Before deciding on orthognathic surgery, consider getting a second opinion from another surgeon or orthodontist.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: February 5, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine William F. Hohlt, DDS - Orthodontics
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