Bee Cave Surgical Orthodontics

You may benefit from surgical orthodontics when your jaw position is an underlying cause of severe teeth misalignment. After an evaluation, Dr. Alberto Tostado of Bee Cave may recommend a consultation with an oral surgeon and coordinate your care if you agree to treatment. He was a surgical orthodontic patient himself and has a special interest and extra training in surgical orthodontics.

What Is Surgical Orthodontics?

Surgical orthodontics, or orthognathic surgery, is jaw surgery to correct severe malocclusions—teeth and jaw misalignment—that cause problems with biting, chewing, speaking, and appearance. Usually, you will wear braces or aligners before and after surgery to ensure your teeth achieve their final healthy position.

When Do You Need Surgical Orthodontics?

Surgical orthodontics can help when your jaw position affects the alignment of your teeth so much that orthodontic treatment alone cannot resolve the concerns. Some cases that may require jaw surgery include:

• Class II malocclusion: Your lower jaw is too far back from your upper jaw. Surgery can advance the position of your lower jaw.
• Class III malocclusion: Your lower jaw is too far forward from your upper jaw. Surgery can set your lower jaw further back or move your upper jaw further forward.
• Open bite: When you close your mouth, your upper and lower teeth do not meet.
• Overbite: Your upper teeth overlap the lower teeth excessively.

How Does Orthognathic Surgery Work?

After evaluating your teeth and jaw, Dr. Tostado may determine that you can benefit from surgical orthodontics. He will discuss your options and the pros and cons of each choice. If you want to go ahead, he will refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The surgeon will work with Dr. Tostado as a team to develop a treatment plan for moving your jaws forward, backward, or sideways to achieve the desired alignment.

The surgeon will complete these steps:

• Make incisions in the gums and bones
• Reposition the jaws
• Attach tiny metal plates and screws to hold your jaw in place

You may stay overnight in the hospital. Afterward, you will recover at home for at least two to three weeks. You can resume wearing braces four to six weeks after surgery to finalize your teeth alignment.

What Are the Benefits of Surgical Orthodontics?

Surgical orthodontics improves the following:

• Chewing function
• Speech
• Breathing
• Sleeping
• Facial symmetry
• Self-confidence

What Are the Risks of Orthognathic Surgery?

Orthognathic surgery is generally safe when an experienced oral surgeon performs it. Still, there are risks associated with jaw surgery, as with any surgery. Your oral surgeon will explain the risks for your case, which can include:

• Infection
• Jaw joint dysfunction
• Jaw position relapse
• Need for further corrective surgery
• Nerve damage causing lingering teeth or lip numbness
• Tooth damage

How Much Does Orthognathic Surgery Cost?

The cost of orthognathic surgery varies depending on the severity of the malocclusion and the surgeon’s fees. Your oral surgeon will give you a pretreatment estimate. Contact your insurance company to ask if your plan will pay a percentage of the cost.

Request a Consultation

Dr. Tostado is a former orthognathic surgery patient. His treatment plan included braces and surgical orthodontics, so he can relate to your concerns. He enjoys helping patients whose cases involve braces or aligners and jaw surgery. Call us or complete our appointment request form for a consultation.