ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY

This information has been prepared to help the patients with dentofacial deformities to understand their problem, the available treatment options and the most important aspects of these interventions. Please talk to your surgeon if you have any doubt.

A lot of patients have a malocclusion, which means their superior and inferior teeth don’t interlock in a proper way. The majority of malocclusions can be treated by an orthodontist with fixed or removable dental devices, but if there is a severe unbalance in the bones of the face (maxilla and mandible) a surgical intervention may be needed to correct it.

The lack of harmony in the development and size of said bones also cause anomalies in the contour of the face. The orthognathic surgery interventions are used to deal with this dentofacial deformities.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE

Who seeks to improve the appearance of his face, and his dental occlusion

Who is realistic in what he hopes to achieve with the operation

Who is the right age, as it is an important factor

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Dentofacial deformities, except rare occasions, aren’t incompatible with the patient’s life. This kind of deformities can only be suitably corrected with a surgical-orthodontic combined treatment. If the patients don’t want to be operated, he/she will continue with the deformity and the chewing problems, but if she/he visits the dentist regularly and keeps a good oral hygiene, they may not necessarily lose their teeth prematurely.

PHASES OF TREATMENT

In this treatment it take part a team formed by at least, two specialists: an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon. The treatment usually lasts a little bit longer than two years and it’s divided in three phases:

Pre-surgical orthodontic. During approximately a year and a half. During this phase it can be necessary the extraction of the third molars (‘wisdom teeth’). During this phase the orthodontist straightens and adjusts the teeth of every dental arcade on its own.
Surgery. With a recovery time of approximately five weeks. The surgeon places the maxilla and mandible as it were supposed to be.
Post-surgical orthodontic. . During this phase (of approximately six months) the othodontist adjust the last details of the dental occlusion.

DESPUES DE LA INTERVENCIÓN

Después de la intervención se encontrará molesto, y su médico le recetará medicación para aliviarle. Deberá estar durante el primer día en la cama, con la cabeza elevada. Es normal que aparezca una inflamación importante de la cara, así como equimosis (moratones) en algunas partes. Algunos pacientes se sienten algo deprimidos en este momento. Pero todo esto pasará pronto, y en dos semanas se encontrará otra vez bien. Algunas zonas de la boca o de la cara permanecerán anestesiadas durante los primeros meses. Los dientes del maxilar y la mandíbula permanecerán unidos mediante gomas que impiden abrir la boca y que pueden estar colocadas un tiempo variable (hasta cinco semanas, dependiendo del caso). Mientras los huesos de la cara consolidan la dieta debe ser líquida, en forma de purés.

Aunque notará una mejoría importante dos semanas después de la operación, serán necesario que pase en torno a un mes hasta que haya desaparecido totalmente la inflamación de la cara. Después de una intervención de cirugía ortognática siempre hay cambios en la cara. Si la disarmonía era severa, los cambios después de la cirugía son más obvios. La gran mayoría de los pacientes encuentran dichos cambios favorables para su aspecto. Su doctor discutirá con usted previamente los cambios que puede esperar y le recomendará la intervención que más armonía puede proporcionar a su cara.