Generally, we know that orthodontics helps align teeth beautifully and improves chewing efficiency. However, in patients with abnormal occlusion, some may have complex jaw structure abnormalities such as protruding jaws, retruded jaws, or asymmetrical faces, which affect daily life and cause a lack of confidence, reluctance to smile, or even impact job applications. Orthodontics combined with jaw surgery is therefore a treatment method that helps correct abnormalities in both teeth and jaw bones to achieve proportionality, boost confidence, and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Why can’t orthodontics alone fix it… Here are the reasons you should know
Orthodontics involves moving teeth on the jawbone base, so the vitality of the teeth and the quality of the patient’s bone must be considered. It is like planting a tree that requires soil and a pot. When arranging a garden neatly, we cannot tilt the tree too much out of the pot but must lift the pot and arrange the spacing properly. Similarly, in patients with jawbone structural abnormalities that are too severe to allow teeth to occlude properly, such as a very retruded chin, a protruding chin, or the lower teeth overlapping the upper teeth excessively, orthodontics combined with jaw surgery is necessary to adjust both the occlusion and jawbone position to normal, making the face more proportional and beautiful.
As an adult… can I have orthodontics combined with jaw surgery?
After the peak growth period, generally at age 16 for females and 18 for males, it is the time when jaw surgery can be performed. However, if there are problems affecting daily life, treatment may still be considered. Some adults may view orthodontics as a fashion and feel uncomfortable undergoing treatment. Nevertheless, in some cases, treatment is necessary, such as having teeth that collide causing looseness, deep bite with teeth biting into the gums, which if left untreated for a long time, the impact may cause tooth death and future tooth loss.
There is no specific age limit for orthodontics or orthodontics combined with jaw surgery, but a physical examination and suitability assessment by the medical team are required to ensure safe surgery.
Orthodontics combined with jaw surgery can treat (some) diseases!
Some patients with jaw abnormalities, such as a small lower jaw or short chin, may have narrow airways or, in adults, lax airway tissues. These patients often experience problems during sleep, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, which can be treated by orthodontics combined with jaw surgery to correct the small jaw structure to be more proportional and expand the upper airway, reducing snoring and apnea, improving sleep quality, increasing alertness, and reducing risks of heart disease and high blood pressure.
It is clear that orthodontics combined with surgery is not just a matter of fashion. For some adults, this treatment improves quality of life both physically and mentally. Therefore, if you find yourself at risk, you should come for an examination and assessment with the medical team to receive appropriate treatment.
Dr. Pholkorn Buranaprasertsuk
Orthodontic Specialist
Dental Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
