Orthognathic Surgery or Orthodontic Treatment: Which Is Right for Me? (Non-Surgical Two-Jaw Orthodontic Treatment)

How to Find Balance in My Face

Orthognathic Surgery and Orthodontic Treatment

Which Option Is Right for Me?

Everyone has a different

facial shape and proportion.

If the position of the jaws or the way the teeth come together

makes the face appear unbalanced,

or if you are concerned about a protruding jaw, a receding jaw, or facial asymmetry,

you may consider orthognathic surgery or orthodontic treatment.

Considering two-jaw treatment means

that you are not simply seeking a change in appearance,

but also want to find balance and restore function in a way that suits you.

Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic explains in detail the differences between orthognathic surgery and orthodontic treatment,

as well as which situations each option may be suitable for.

Facial Golden Ratio and Jaw Balance

In general, ideal facial proportions

are known to consist of the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the face

in an approximate ratio of 1:1:0.8.

In particular, when the lower third of the face appears long,

it can give the impression of a protruding jaw, a long face, a square jaw, or facial asymmetry,

which leads many people with these concerns to look into two-jaw treatment.

However, not every concern about facial shape

requires surgery.

The treatment method differs depending on whether

the cause lies in the jawbone itself

or in the teeth and bite.

The Difference Between Orthognathic Surgery and Orthodontic Treatment

Orthognathic surgery

is a surgical treatment that directly moves

the position of the upper and lower jaws.

In contrast, orthodontic treatment

is a non-surgical method that improves the bite

through tooth movement and orthodontic appliances

and, when necessary, uses tools such as mini-screws

to guide changes in jaw position.

Therefore, it is important to understand that

orthognathic surgery is not always the right answer,

and non-surgical two-jaw orthodontic treatment is not suitable for everyone.

If the skeletal problem is not severe,

improvement may be possible through non-surgical two-jaw orthodontic treatment,

while orthognathic surgery may be necessary

when there is a significant abnormality in the size or position of the jawbones themselves.

When Non-Surgical Two-Jaw Orthodontic Treatment May Be Possible

Orthodontic treatment may be considered in the following cases.

1. There is a malocclusion.

2. There is no significant change in the size of the jawbones themselves.

3. The cause of the concern about appearance lies in tooth alignment or the bite.

In these cases, adjusting the position of the teeth and improving the bite

can restore both function and aesthetics.

However, non-surgical two-jaw orthodontic treatment

is not surgery that significantly changes the facial shape itself,

so it may not be suitable for those seeking dramatic skeletal changes.

When Orthognathic Surgery May Be Necessary

On the other hand, in the following cases,

orthognathic surgery may be considered rather than non-surgical two-jaw orthodontic treatment.

1. There is a significant difference in the lengths of the upper and lower jaws.

2. The jaw itself is large or long.

3. The cause of the facial change lies in a skeletal problem.

When skeletal malocclusion is present,

moving only the teeth through non-surgical two-jaw orthodontic treatment

may require excessive tooth movement,

which can place a burden on gum health.

In such cases, orthognathic surgery,

which improves the position of the jawbones themselves,

may be a more suitable treatment option.

When Orthognathic Surgery and Orthodontic Treatment Are Performed Together

When skeletal and bite-related dental problems exist at the same time,

orthognathic surgery and orthodontic treatment may be performed together.

If only orthognathic surgery is performed,

the position of the jaws may improve,

but problems with the way the teeth come together may remain.

Conversely, if only orthodontic treatment is performed,

there may be skeletal limitations.

Treatment is broadly divided into an approach involving orthodontic treatment before and after surgery

and an approach involving orthodontic treatment after surgery,

with the choice determined by the patient’s condition and treatment goals.

Pre- and Post-Surgical Orthodontic Treatment

Pre- and post-surgical orthodontic treatment

is a process in which preparatory orthodontic treatment is performed

before orthognathic surgery,

followed by finishing orthodontic treatment

after the surgery.

Pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, or preparatory orthodontic treatment,

is used when it is difficult to accurately calculate the amount of tooth or bone removal required.

The teeth are moved in advance according to the expected surgical results

to correct the positions of the jaw joints and dental arches,

helping the teeth come together properly after surgery.

After surgery, orthodontic treatment is also performed as finishing treatment

to correct minor misalignments precisely.

Surgery-First Orthodontic Treatment

Surgery-first orthodontic treatment is a process in which

orthognathic surgery is performed first,

followed by orthodontic treatment,

without the traditional pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, or preparatory treatment.

Because the orthognathic surgery is performed first,

the overall treatment time is naturally shorter than with pre- and post-surgical orthodontic treatment,

allowing the results of the appearance change to be seen sooner.

However, the reason for pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, or preparatory treatment,

is to establish a proper bite.

Therefore, surgery-first orthodontic treatment without preparatory treatment

has the disadvantage that the bite may be unstable

between the orthognathic surgery and the subsequent orthodontic treatment.

Choosing the Right Two-Jaw Treatment for Me

The most important thing in two-jaw treatment

is not choosing the treatment you want,

but choosing the treatment that suits your current condition.

Even with the same protruding jaw or facial asymmetry,

the treatment approach can differ completely

depending on whether the cause lies in the teeth, gums, or jawbones.

For an accurate diagnosis,

the condition of the teeth and the jaw structure must be analyzed together,

requiring comprehensive judgment from both orthodontic and oral and maxillofacial surgical perspectives.

Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic

establishes customized treatment plans based on the expertise of orthodontic specialists and extensive clinical experience,

taking the patient’s oral structure and facial balance into consideration.

We hope you find the orthognathic surgery or orthodontic treatment method that suits you

and begin a new change that improves both function and aesthetics.

A new smile,

a new beginning,

a new start,

this is Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic.

• This post is a medical information article provided by a medical institution under a third-party contractual relationship.