Sometimes, traditional orthodontic treatment is not enough to resolve problems related to your bite, jaws, face and airway. At Desert Ridge Orthodontics in Phoenix, Dr. Michael Papademetriou has 30 years of surgical orthodontic experience, and provides expert orthognathic care for men and women who want to make the best of their orthodontic treatment. To learn more about the benefits and uses of surgical orthodontics, go online or call the office to book a complimentary appointment.
Surgical orthodontics refers to the specialized surgical intervention required when traditional orthodontic treatments cannot provide the best functional and dentofacial esthetic results.
Also referred to orthognathic treatment, surgical orthodontics is a team effort that combines the efforts and knowledge of your dentist, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon, other specialists and you.
Dr. Papademetriou specializes in providing men and women with surgical options for issues related to bad bites, jaw bone abnormalities, and malocclusion. They might also recommend orthognathic intervention to treat sleep apnea.
The team at Desert Ridge Orthodontics won’t be able to consider orthognathic treatment until your jaw stops growing, as it’s essential that your bite and jaw don’t move further after the procedure. This typically occurs after the age of 16 for females and 18 for males.
Dr. Papademetriou (and Dr. Smith) eliminate) suggests that you consider at the very least a conversation about surgical orthodontics if you experience any of the following:
While the above symptoms don’t automatically warrant orthognathic intervention, you should book an appointment at Desert Ridge Orthodontics for an initial assessment of your treatment options.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs the orthognathic surgery. Your orthodontist at Desert Ridge Orthodontics makes sure to put you in touch with a qualified surgeon.
Before the surgery, you will undergo presurgical orthodontics, which, depending on the problem, could last 6 months to a couple of years. When your orthodontist and oral surgeon decide that your teeth are in the right position, the surgeon will perform the surgery to align the jaws for maximum function and esthetics.
Typically you may need to take off work the first two weeks post surgery. Four to six weeks after surgery the orthodontist will take over and continue the orthodontic treatment for the next 6 - 12 months until the optimum result is achieved. Eventually, you transition into a standard retainer to maintain your new smile.
Call or go online today to book a complimentary appointment and learn more about the benefits of surgical orthodontics.
