Jaw Surgery Before and After: BHO Treatment Gallery

For patients who have minor misalignments or have orthodontic care when they are young, the process usually involves braces or Invisalign aligners and retainers to keep the teeth in position after treatment. For those who are looking to straighten their teeth as adults, after all the bones in your mouth and face have stopped ”growing”, or who have more significant misalignments or uneven jaws, orthognathic (jaw) surgery might be necessary to get you the smile that you love.

Here at Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we know that having surgery can be scary and might cause some people to put off getting the care they need, but we are here to tell you that you’re not alone! Look at these fantastic jaw surgery before and after transformations to see what great results are possible. We will be here every step of the way, from your first consultation, through treatment planning, surgical referrals, and final adjustments to get you the beautiful smile you deserve.

Jaw Surgery Before and After Treatment at BHO

Below are some photos of patients who came to us to fix different orthodontic issues – from an underbite to extensive crowding – that all warranted orthognathic surgeries. Look at these patients’ beautiful success stories in our Jaw Surgery Before and After Gallery.

Patient 1

When this patient noticed his teeth shifting, he came to us to see how we could help. We diagnosed a Class III Occlusion (where the bottom jaw sits in front of the upper jaw) and moderate to severe crowding. The patient still had all his wisdom teeth, so we treatment planned for this patient to have his wisdom teeth extracted 8-9 months prior.

This patient opted for orthognathic surgery with a surgical orthodontic treatment plan using traditional metal braces. In collaboration with his oral surgeon, his wisdom teeth were removed 9-12 months prior to his surgery. We placed braces on and aligned his teeth to prepare him for surgery. When his teeth were ready, we placed any additional attachments, and hooks the surgeon needed, and he went for surgery. After the surgery his orthodontic treatment made sure his bite was properly aligned and then he was ready for retainers.

Before

After

Patient 2

This patient came to us to see what we could offer to fix his deep overbite. He had severely retroclined incisors with a deep bite and reduced lower facial height. He started with Invisalign clear aligners. We re-evaluated and switched treatment to bonded braces paired with orthognathic surgery to widen his maxillary palate (the roof of his mouth). After the surgery, he had his braces removed. He wears retainers to maintain his healthier bite, more robust profile, and excellent smile.

Before

After

Patient 3

Patient 3 came to our office looking to straighten his crowded teeth. We knew he would benefit from orthognathic surgery to widen his maxilla (upper jaw) and make room for his teeth.

We worked with his surgeon to get him in traditional bonded braces before, during, and after surgery. This patient was also given jaw exercises while recovering from surgery to strengthen his muscles and help his bones heal correctly.

He now wears a Vivera clear retainer to keep his teeth straight and stable – as you can clearly see in that photo-ready smile!

Before

After

What Is Jaw Surgery?

Standard orthodontic treatment is phenomenal at correcting misalignments of the teeth. Crowding, rotations, open bites, and crossbites are no match for the arsenal of orthodontists’ tools and techniques to guide teeth back into their proper alignment. However, more extensive treatment is necessary when one of the jaws, the maxilla (upper), the mandible (lower), or both, are underdeveloped or develop too slowly. Scenarios like this are when jaw surgery, professionally known as orthognathic surgery, can benefit the patient enormously.

Orthognathic surgery is performed by an oral surgeon or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, typically in close consultation with a referring orthodontist. Jaw surgery can be used with orthodontics to correct the following conditions and disorders.

Malocclusion (Misalignment)

- - Severe misalignment of the jaws can lead to conditions such as underbite, overbite, or crossbite. These misalignments can cause difficulty in biting, chewing, and speaking, and can also cause aesthetic problems.

Facial Asymmetry

- - Uneven face shape due to differences in jaw sizes can lead to self-esteem issues and potential TMJ and breathing problems.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

- - Sleep apnea can be caused by variations in anatomy, including the upper throat and sinuses. In some cases, orthognathic surgery can allow more space for the patient to breathe while asleep in bed.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

- Some TMJ problems, like clicking, popping, and pain, can be treated by orthognathic surgery and orthodontics to put the joint into position to open and close smoothly.

Before jaw surgery, orthodontics corrects misalignments and provides a stable foundation for the skeletal changes achieved by surgical interventions. Following jaw surgery, patients continue orthodontic treatment to fine-tune the alignment of their teeth and bite.

What Orthodontic Treatments Can Be Used with Jaw Surgery?

Braces: Traditional braces are commonly paired with jaw surgery cases. These more conventional braces include brackets connected to a metal archwire, individually bonded to each tooth. After surgery, they provide stability and exert force on the teeth and jaws to guide everything into the correct position.
Elastics: These professional-grade rubber bands are often used with overbite/underbite cases to gently bring the jaws into the proper occlusion (biting position).
Invisalign: Instead of wire and brackets, Invisalign uses a series of clear aligner trays to shift the patient’s teeth over time. Invisalign provides many of the same benefits as traditional braces but is more discrete and easier to keep clean.
Expanders: Expanders are dental devices that can be used with jaw surgery to widen the upper or lower curve of the jaws. Expanders help maintain stable pressure after surgery, allowing your bones to heal correctly.

Why Should You Consider Orthodontic Treatment and Jaw Surgery?

Improve Aesthetics: By evening out the size of your jaws, surgery can give you a stronger profile and a straighter smile.
Prevent Dental Issues: Skeletal variations needing surgical correction can cause severe misalignments. When your teeth are crowded or out of position, it can be challenging to keep them clean. Plaque and calculus can lead to cavities and bone loss. Jaw surgery with orthodontic treatment can balance your jaws and provide room for all your teeth, making it easier to keep them clean and prevent future problems.
Enhance Function: Jaw misalignments can affect your bite, changing your speech and eating. Orthognathic surgery and orthodontic treatment can improve your bite, making it easier to talk and chew food.
Increase Comfort and Reduce Pain: Extra pressure from having jaws out of alignment can cause headaches and jaw pain. Having jaw surgery can even out the pressure on your teeth and TMJ when you move your mouth or bite. By pairing orthodontics and jaw surgery, you can relieve that pain.

Beverly Hills Orthodontics Provides the Best Orthodontic Treatment for People Who Need Jaw Surgery in Los Angeles

Having skeletal variations in the size and shape of your jaws can affect your self-esteem – but more than that, it can impact your overall health. In the cases above, you have seen how jaw surgery can transform a patient’s smile in ways that orthodontics alone cannot. After seeing the before and after examples of the great work we can do with jaw surgery, you can see the added benefit of considering surgical options for more severe misalignments and jaw corrections. For patients who would benefit from jaw surgery, we provide orthodontic treatment options that include:

- - Braces
  - Elastics

Invisalign
Expanders

The professionals at BHO are well accustomed to providing orthodontic care to individuals who also need jaw surgery. With consulting oral surgeons throughout Los Angeles (only one floor above the Beverly Hills location), BHO is ready to provide you with a quick and easy surgical referral to a trusted expert surgeon.

With offices in Beverly Hills, Studio City, Alhambra, and Downtown LA, Beverly Hills Orthodontics is accessible to nearly all residents of Los Angeles County.

Want to get more before and after information about jaw surgery? Call or text BHO at 310-785-0770 or visit our contact page to book a consultation and start your path toward a brighter smile.

NOTE: All blog content is intended to supplement—NOT REPLACE—the expertise of a healthcare professional and should not be construed in any way as medical advice. Consult a professional orthodontist directly, like the ones at BHO, to assess your individual needs and advise the best course of treatment.

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