Surgical Support

The overall goal of surgical procedures in dental care is to improve function through the correction of the underlying skeletal deformity

Malformation of the jaws or skeletal abnormality can cause aesthetic disharmony structural and functional deficiencies and defects which can include chewing problems, abnormal speech patterns, breathing problems, early loss of teeth and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint. Therefore the objective of orthognathic surgery is to restore the aesthetic balance, function and structural balance.

It must be remembered that function such as poor resting posture of the tongue and lips and the resulting tongue thrust patterns and breathing patterns will not be entirely addressed with surgery alone. The surgery together with orthodontic treatment will provide harmonious maxillomandibular relationship and favorable conditions for improvement of function. Myofunctional therapy can improve muscular resting postures and functional patterns therefore enhancing surgery, results and stability.

In surgical cases a multidisciplinary approach to planning is needed these team members include the general dentist, orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, prothodontist, periodontist, plastic surgeon, ENT surgeons, pulmonologist/sleep physician, speech language therapist and orofacial myologist.

Myofunctional therapy must be coordinated with the orthodontist and the surgical team. Therapy can be divided into three main stages;

1. Therapy prior to surgery

2. During rehabilitation post surgery

3. Maintenance therapy