Types of orthodontic jaw surgery
Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw, chin, or a combination when bone position cannot be corrected by orthodontics alone.
The short answer
Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw, chin, or a combination when bone position cannot be corrected by orthodontics alone. The operation is planned with orthodontic records, photographs, models or scans, and three-dimensional imaging.
What types of jaw surgery can change facial bone position?
Maxillary osteotomy moves the upper jaw, mandibular osteotomy moves the lower jaw, and genioplasty changes chin position. Bimaxillary surgery combines upper- and lower-jaw movement when the facial skeleton and bite require coordinated correction.
How is suitability for jaw surgery assessed?
An orthodontist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon assess facial growth, tooth position, airway, chewing, speech, and jaw-joint symptoms. Treatment commonly includes orthodontic preparation, surgery with fixation plates and screws, and orthodontic finishing.
When does a jaw discrepancy need surgical assessment?
Seek assessment for a severe skeletal bite discrepancy, difficulty chewing, facial asymmetry, or a jaw problem that remains after ordinary orthodontic options are considered. Urgent review is needed after surgery for breathing difficulty, uncontrolled bleeding, or rapidly increasing swelling.
What should you ask about the planned jaw movements?
Ask which jaw movement is proposed, how it changes the bite and face, and what orthodontic stages surround the operation. Ask about numbness, fixation hardware, recovery restrictions, and the alternative of orthodontics without surgery.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as ordinary orthodontics?
No. Braces or aligners move teeth, while orthognathic surgery changes the position of jawbone.
Can surgery be planned without orthodontics?
Jaw surgery is usually coordinated with orthodontic tooth movement so the teeth meet correctly after the bones heal.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.