Oral Health Center
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.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
February 05, 2007
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