Braces or Jaw Surgery?

[AlanB]

Hi, my daughter has an over bite, with an overjet, resulting in a 13mm overbite overall. The orthodontist has said she can have braces to correct the overjet or jaw surgery to correct the over bite.

I feel that Jaw surgery won't solve the slanted angle of her top teeth and she should have the braces, but the orthodontist has said that Jaw surgery won't be possible after having braces.

My question... if the braces alone don't solve the worst of the over bite (I believe about 5mm to 7mm will remain) can she have surgery after? - like I say, I concerned that surgery will leave the slanted teeth which is obvious under her lips.

p.s the worst of the overbite is down to the overjet.

Thank you.

 

[Dr M]

A lot of times in orthodontic treatment, you get ideal treatment outcomes and then treatment that camouflages other problems when finished. Most of the times you are looking at a combination of braces and surgery to reach the ideal treatment outcome. I don't know why the orthodontist would say either/or and not one and then the other. You can ask for a better explanation regarding this fact, or go for a second opinion.

 

[AlanB]

A lot of times in orthodontic treatment, you get ideal treatment outcomes and then treatment that camouflages other problems when finished. Most of the times you are looking at a combination of braces and surgery to reach the ideal treatment outcome. I don't know why the orthodontist would say either/or and not one and then the other. You can ask for a better explanation regarding this fact, or go for a second opinion.

Thanks, we were told that she would get braces after jaw surgery but the main aim of the jaw surgery was to bring the bottom jaw forward, whereas the main aim of braces alone was to pull the teeth back for the overjet. I can say for sure but the impression I was getting was that the braces after surgery wouldn’t assist with the over jet.

I think the overjet is the most noticeable but would hate for my daughter to lose the chance for surgery, but then hate to have the surgery and leave her with a noticeable overjet

 

[Dr M]

If you want the best possibe outcome, follow the instructions of the orthodontist, and go for the surgery first. Having braces only, will most likely end up in a non-ideal outcome where the malocclusions is only camouflaged.