For some patients, orthodontics alone isn't enough. When the upper and lower jaws don't align well, jaw surgery combined with specialist orthodontics can deliver lasting, transformational results. We'll guide you through every step.
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Orthognathic surgery - more commonly called jaw surgery - is used in cases where the upper and lower jaws don't fit together properly. This can cause issues with biting, chewing, sleep, and the overall balance of the face.
Treatment combines specialist orthodontics with a separate surgical procedure carried out by a maxillofacial surgeon. The orthodontic stage prepares your teeth, the surgery corrects the jaw position, and a final orthodontic phase finishes the alignment.
We don't perform the surgery itself - that's carried out by a maxillofacial surgeon in a hospital setting. What we do handle is the specialist orthodontic care before and after the procedure, planned closely with your surgical team.
Our role is to make sure your teeth are in exactly the right position before surgery, and to fine-tune the alignment afterwards. We coordinate the whole journey so you only ever have one main point of contact.
When orthodontics and surgery are planned together, the results go far beyond a straighter smile. Here's what patients value most.
Treats cases where the jaws don't align well and orthodontics alone won't fix the issue.
Detailed orthodontic preparation that works hand-in-hand with your surgical team.
We coordinate between you, your surgeon and your dentist so nothing falls between the cracks.
When orthodontics and surgery work together, the outcomes are stable and long-lasting.
Better bite function, better facial balance, and better long-term oral health.
We'll only recommend surgery if it's the right step, and we'll explain why in plain English.
Jaw surgery is rarely quick - the whole journey usually runs two to three years from your first appointment. We start with a free consultation, a full set of scans and a joint review with a maxillofacial surgeon at one of our partner hospitals before anything is decided.
If combined treatment is the right route, phase one is pre-surgical orthodontics - usually 12 to 18 months of braces or aligners to position your teeth correctly for surgery. The surgery itself is a single procedure under general anaesthetic, with around two weeks of soft-food recovery before normal life resumes. Most patients are back at work within four to six weeks.
Phase two is three to six months of post-surgical fine-tuning to settle the bite. When you finish, a retainer protects the result. The surgical team handles the operation; we handle the orthodontics either side and stay the steady point of contact across the whole journey.
Find answers to the most common questions about jaw surgery and combined treatment.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with our Specialist Orthodontists and we'll talk you through every option.
We're conveniently located in Oldham with free patient parking. Book a free consultation and start your smile journey today.
Oldham Orthodontics
221 Hollins Road, Oldham
OL8 3AA
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