Transforming lives through orthognathic surgery
For some patients, braces alone cannot provide the level of correction needed for a properly functioning bite. Corrective jaw surgery, called orthognathic surgery, can correct irregularities in the jaw, while also ensuring teeth are properly aligned. This then creates facial balance and improves bite function and overall oral health.
What is orthognathic surgery?
Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper and/or lower jaws to achieve a harmonious relationship between the teeth and jaws. The surgery is performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment to ensure the most ideal result.
Who can benefit from orthognathic treatment?
Jaw irregularities can cause many issues and can affect almost every aspect of your life. Orthognathic surgery can help patients speak, eat, and breathe better, and can provide a balanced facial appearance.
Some common conditions can indicate you may be a candidate for orthognathic surgery. They include:
- Severe malocclusions, such as overbites, underbites, or open bites
- Jaw deformities or facial asymmetry, such as protruding or receding jaws
- Functional difficulties, such as difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or chronic TMJ pain
- Airway obstruction, such as obstructive sleep apnea
- Congenital conditions, such as cleft lip or palate, or other craniofacial issues
Orthognathic Surgery Treatment Steps
Orthognathic surgery is a multi-step treatment that involves careful planning and coordination between an orthodontist and surgeon. Steps include:
- Treatment planning. Dr. Stosich works closely with the surgical team to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Advanced imaging will be used to plan the process meticulously.
- Pre-surgical orthodontics. Braces will help guide the teeth to their ideal positions, allowing them to fit together properly once the surgery has realigned the jaws. This phase usually takes between 12-18 months.
- Once the teeth have been moved, it’s time for the surgery. This is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make precise cuts in the jawbones and move them to their new positions. Then, they will be secured using small bone plates and screws.
- Finishing phase. Once the jaws have completely healed, the post-surgical orthodontic phase can begin. Dr. Stosich will fine-tune the bite to ensure everything is aligned properly and the teeth and jaws can have a healthy relationship.
Benefits of surgery
There are numerous benefits to orthognathic surgery. Not only will the function of the jaw be improved, but you’ll see other benefits, such as:
- Better oral function. It will be easier for you to bite, chew, and swallow when your teeth and jaws are properly aligned.
- Better overall health. You’ll be able to breathe better and may even see relief from obstructive sleep apnea. And, with your jaws properly aligned, you’ll find relief from TMJ pain.
- Better oral health. An improper bite can cause excessive wear and tear on your teeth, which can lead to chipping, cracking, or breaking.
Precision Planning – the difference maker
When you receive care from Dr. Stosich, you can rest assured that your care is never cookie-cutter. Your treatment is the result of extensive work and planning behind the scenes.
- Best in class care team. Dr. Stosich collaborates with the top orthognathic surgeons in the country, harnessing their collective expertise into the very best care for their patients.
- Rigorous planning. Your care team meets regularly to discuss cases, ranging from the routine to the most complex. By combining their expertise with the latest 3D virtual surgical planning tools, every patient can be assured their care has been carefully planned just for them.
- Personalized treatment and results. Every patient is unique, and that means their care must be, too. Dr. Stosich takes the time to consider the unique anatomy, features, and functional goals of every patient. This commitment to customized and precise care ensures lasting and best-in-class results for every patient.
Why Dr. Stosich?
Dr. Stosich’s approach to orthognathic surgical treatment is defined by his world-class expertise and commitment to interdisciplinary, collaborative care. He has a unique, national network that is dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcome for every patient.
Dr. Stosich is a leader in treating complex cases, having treated and consulted on thousands of orthodontic, orthognathic, and craniofacial cases in his nearly two decades of practice. This experience allows him to treat even the most complex and severe cases, including craniofacial deformities and cleft and lip palates. Patients travel nationally, and even internationally, to receive care from Dr. Stosich.
Dr. Stosich is a renowned orthodontist and an avid craniofacial researcher and educator. Orthognathic surgery requires precision and a team approach. He is the Director of Orthodontics at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he routinely collaborates with craniofacial surgeons, ENT specialists, speech pathologists, neurosurgeons, and other specialists to provide his patients with the very best care possible.
Dr. Stosich spent seven years at top research universities, where his research yielded numerous publications that have led to important advances in moving teeth more efficiently through bone. He has published and lectured throughout the United States and abroad, and his achievements were even awarded by the National Institute of Health.
Dr. Stosich brings excellence and cutting-edge clinical standards to all of his patients. When you receive care from Dr. Stosich, you can be sure that care is based on the latest evidence-based practices and advanced techniques and is designed to meet your unique needs.