Are you about to undergo the surgical orthodontics procedure? This surgery can seem intimidating, whether correcting a bite issue or improving your overall facial structure. But fear not! In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what to expect before, during, and after the surgery so that you can feel confident and prepared every step of the way. So sit back, relax, and read on to learn more about this life-changing procedure!
What is Surgical Orthodontics?
Surgical orthodontics is a dental procedure that uses braces and surgery to correct various orthodontic problems. Surgical orthodontics aims to improve the smile by correcting alignment, crowding, and biting issues. During the procedure, the dentist will remove excess teeth, adjust the brackets and wires that support your teeth, and create a new set of braces. If needed, a second surgery may be necessary to finalize the treatment.
Types of Surgical Orthodontics
There are a few types of surgical orthodontics: traditional braces, Invisalign, and ClearCorrect.
Traditional braces are metal or plastic devices that fit around the teeth and are attached to brackets on the teeth. They help straighten your teeth by restraining their movement in one or more directions. However, traditional braces can be uncomfortable and take a long time to wear off.
Invisalign is a dental retreatment technique that uses clear aligners, which are removable markers that show where your teeth should be positioned. Your dentist will place the aligners into your smile lines before you have any teeth removed. Over time, the aligners will move as you eat and drink, so they must be replaced regularly. Invisalign is less expensive than traditional braces but requires more visits from your dentist; it usually takes about two years to complete the treatment.
ClearCorrect is a similar type of treatment to Invisalign but uses transparent shells instead of aligners. The body sits on top of your natural tooth and gradually wears away, revealing the correct teeth position underneath. ClearCorrect is less expensive than Invisalign but can be more challenging to maintain due to its removable nature.
How Does Surgical Orthodontics Work?
Surgical orthodontics treats crooked teeth and uses surgery to move teeth into the correct position. The goal of surgical orthodontics is to improve the appearance and function of the teeth.
Before the surgery, a dentist may use an imaging system (such as an X-ray or computerized tomography [CT] scan) to determine which teeth need to be moved. Depending on the severity of the problem, some or all of the teeth may need to be moved.
Dental surgeons carefully move your teeth into their new positions during surgery using special tools and techniques. Your mouth will be heavily medicated during, and after the procedure, so you will need close supervision. It can take several weeks for your jaw muscles to adjust to your new tooth positions, so you may initially experience some pain and stiffness in your mouth. However, with regular visits to your dentist, this should eventually disappear.
What to Expect During the Surgery
The orthodontist will remove any unwanted teeth and jawbone during the surgical orthodontics procedure. After the surgery, a splint may be placed to support the newly formed teeth and jawbone. The orthodontist may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. Recovery time after surgery is usually about four weeks.
After the Surgery
After the surgery, you’ll likely experience some pain and swelling. To help reduce discomfort, your orthodontist may give you an opioid or pain reliever as your doctor prescribes. The anesthesia will wear off over time, but you may experience some residual discomfort for a few days. However, most people feel considerably better within a few days after surgery and can resume their usual activities. Depending on your case, your orthodontist may prescribe exercises to help align your teeth.
Conclusion
The surgical orthodontics procedure can be an exhilarating experience, as it can help improve your teeth’ appearance and give you a straighter smile. Before the surgery begins, your orthodontist will ask questions about your dental history, and Ortho Finder software will be used to create a 3D model of your teeth. This information will help the doctor plan how to treat your teeth during the surgery.