Corrective jaw surgery (a ‘jaw osteotomy’) can be performed both at a young age and later in life. Jaw corrections are always performed in close cooperation with an orthodontist and are often accompanied by a period during which fixed braces have to be worn. A jaw correction not only corrects the bite, but can also significantly improve the facial aesthetics and even solve serious snoring and airway problems.
There are many reasons to perform oral surgery:
Preventing these problems in time is obviously better than having to correct them later in life. This is why the majority of jaw corrections take place at a younger age, where they are part of the orthodontic treatment.
A jaw correction is primarily aimed at improving your functioning as much as possible, but it also has a positive effect on your appearance. This is, of course, an additional advantage.
Jaw corrections can usually only be performed in close cooperation with an orthodontist. This is so because an unfavourable alignment of your jaws means that your teeth are not in the right place either. The teeth overlap, you can either have a deep bite or a situation where the teeth do not touch, in short, the bite is rarely adequate.
During the first part of the treatment, the orthodontist will make sure that your teeth are aligned. This can make the underlying defect temporarily more pronounced, both in terms of tooth position and facial profile.
The subsequent operation will ensure that the arches of the upper and lower jaw become well-aligned (again). The bite is corrected and a nice harmonious facial profile is restored.
Finally, after the surgery, it will take the orthodontist another several months to get the final touches right, so that you can go through life with a radiant smile (again).
Each treatment plan is individually designed, taking into account your wishes and expectations, and in extensive consultation with your orthodontist.
