Surgical Orthodontics: Correcting the Skeleton Behind the Bite
Surgical orthodontics describes orthodontic treatment carried out together with corrective jaw surgery, which clinicians call orthognathic surgery. It exists for a specific situation: an adult whose upper and lower jaws are mismatched in size or position by more than tooth movement alone can reasonably compensate for.
Braces and Invisalign® clear aligners excel at moving teeth through bone. They cannot lengthen a short lower jaw or reposition an entire upper jaw once growth has finished. When the discrepancy lives in the skeleton, the bones must be repositioned, and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon does that from a plan built jointly with your orthodontist.
Dietrich Family Orthodontics handles the orthodontic half of that partnership from our Akron, OH office on W Exchange St. Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS, in practice since 1992, prepares the dental arches before surgery, coordinates the plan with your surgeon, and finishes the bite afterward. Our practice has cared for this community since 1966.
Situations that may call for a combined surgical and orthodontic approach:
- A markedly recessive lower jaw with a deep overbite that braces cannot fully resolve
- A protruding lower jaw producing a skeletal underbite
- An open bite in which back teeth touch but front teeth never meet
- Noticeable facial asymmetry, where one side of the jaw differs in length from the other
- Difficulty chewing, biting, or closing the lips comfortably because of jaw position
Reaching that conclusion takes measurement. Digital X-rays let us evaluate the two jaw bases against one another, and iTero® digital scanning captures the arches in three dimensions so planning rests on accurate models.
What Combined Jaw Surgery and Orthodontics Achieves
Surgical orthodontics in Akron, OH corrects bite problems rooted in jaw size or position rather than tooth alignment. Repositioning the jaws can restore comfortable chewing on all teeth, relieve uneven wear caused by a bite that never fit, improve lip closure and speech, balance facial proportions, and in some patients widen a constricted airway.
The reasons patients pursue this route go well past appearance:
- Chewing that finally works. When only a few teeth make contact, those teeth carry the entire load. Aligning the jaws distributes force across the whole arch.
- Protection for the teeth you have. A skeletal mismatch produces abnormal wear facets, chipped edges, and gum recession on the teeth doing the compensating.
- Speech and lip function. Patients who cannot close their lips at rest, or who struggle with certain sounds because of an open bite, often notice a difference after correction.
- Correction rather than disguise. Camouflaging a large skeletal difference means tipping teeth into compromised positions. Surgery removes the need for that compromise.
- Facial balance. Because the jaws support the lower face, repositioning them changes profile, chin projection, and how the smile frames within the face.
- Possible airway benefit. Advancing the jaws can open space behind the tongue, which is relevant for some patients with breathing concerns and is evaluated by the surgeon.
The Combined Treatment Sequence, Start to Finish
Surgical cases move through five stages: consultation and joint diagnosis, a preparatory orthodontic phase, final surgical planning, the operation performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and a finishing orthodontic phase followed by retention.
Stage 1: Diagnosis and the surgical referral
Your complimentary consultation at our Akron office starts with records: digital X-rays, an iTero® scan, photographs, and an examination of how the jaws relate at rest and in function. If findings point toward a skeletal cause, we explain that and refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for a surgical opinion. You are not committed to anything at this stage.
Stage 2: Pre-surgical orthodontics
Braces go on before surgery, and the goal may look counterintuitive. We align each arch on its own terms and remove the compensations your teeth developed to cope with the jaw mismatch. The bite can temporarily appear worse, because the teeth are being positioned to fit correctly once the jaws are moved. This phase usually accounts for the longest stretch of treatment.
Stage 3: Final surgical planning
When the arches are ready, we take a fresh set of records for the surgeon. Modern planning uses digital models and imaging to simulate the intended movement of each jaw and to fabricate the guides used in the operating room. You will review the plan with both offices and hear what the surgeon expects for anesthesia, hospital time, and recovery.
Stage 4: The operation
Surgery is performed by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, not in our office. Incisions are typically made inside the mouth, the bone is repositioned as planned, and small plates and screws hold it there while it heals. Depending on the case, the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both may be moved, and the chin can be adjusted at the same time.
Stage 5: Finishing orthodontics and retention
We resume adjustments once the surgeon clears you, after the earliest healing. This phase closes remaining spaces, seats the bite tooth by tooth, and refines details. When the result is stable, braces come off and you receive custom retainers with a wear schedule.
Combined treatment is measured in months across all stages, and the span depends on the movement required, the surgeon’s plan, and how healing progresses. Both offices give a projected range rather than a promise.
Who Is a Candidate for Surgical Orthodontics in Akron, OH?
Candidacy rests on three things: a discrepancy that is genuinely skeletal, completed facial growth, and health sufficient for a planned procedure.
Growth must be finished
Jaw surgery is generally deferred until skeletal growth is complete, commonly in the later teens for young women and somewhat later for young men, because operating on a jaw still growing risks the result changing afterward. In children and younger teens, the same underlying pattern is often addressed instead with growth-guiding appliances.
Signs the difference is skeletal, not dental
Clues include a chin that sits well behind or ahead of the upper lip in profile, a jaw that appears shifted to one side, front teeth that cannot be brought together no matter how they are aligned, and a history of orthodontic treatment that improved alignment while the bite stayed off.
Health and readiness
Your surgeon evaluates medical fitness for anesthesia and surgery. On the dental side, active decay and gum disease need attention from your general dentist first, and consistent home care matters throughout a treatment span this long. Being informed and prepared for the recovery period is as important as any clinical measurement.
Surgical correction compared with orthodontic camouflage
| Question to weigh | Orthodontics with jaw surgery | Orthodontics alone as camouflage |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Position of the jaw bones plus tooth alignment | Tooth position within unchanged jaws |
| Suited to | Moderate to severe skeletal discrepancies | Mild to moderate discrepancies |
| Effect on the profile | Meaningful change to lower facial balance | Minimal change to facial structure |
| Chewing function | Aimed at full, even contact | Improved, though some compromise may remain |
| Additional care team | Oral and maxillofacial surgeon involved | Orthodontic office only |
| Recovery involved | Surgical recovery period with diet restrictions | No surgical recovery |
Most patients want to understand both columns before deciding, which is what a consultation is for.
Why Choose Dietrich Family Orthodontics in Akron
A surgical case rewards careful sequencing and steady communication between offices. Here is what we bring to it:
- An orthodontist with long experience. Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS has practiced orthodontics since 1992 and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Ohio Dental Association.
- Straight talk about whether surgery is warranted. If your bite can be treated well without an operation, we will say so plainly and show you why.
- Coordination with your surgical team. We supply the records, timing, and orthodontic preparation the surgeon needs, and we stay involved through the finishing phase.
- Accurate digital records. iTero® digital scanning produces the precise models surgical planning depends on, without impression trays.
- Consistency across a long case. The same practice that starts your treatment finishes it and manages your retainers afterward.
- Financial planning help. Our team coordinates orthodontic insurance benefits and arranges monthly payments for the orthodontic portion of care.
This practice has been part of Akron since 1966, and our Wadsworth office adds scheduling flexibility during treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surgical Orthodontics in Akron, OH
Do you perform the jaw surgery in your office?
No. Corrective jaw surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in a hospital or an accredited surgical facility. Our role is the orthodontic half: diagnosing the skeletal component, preparing your arches beforehand, coordinating the plan with the surgeon, and finishing the bite once you have healed.
Why do I need braces before surgery?
Because the surgeon needs arches that will fit together once the jaws are in their new position. Over years of compensating, teeth tip and shift to make an imbalanced bite workable. Pre-surgical orthodontics undoes those compensations and levels each arch so the corrected jaw relationship produces a bite that actually meets.
Will my face look different afterward?
Some change to the lower face is expected, since the jaws determine chin projection, lip support, and facial proportion. The degree depends entirely on the planned movement, and digital planning lets your surgeon show you the anticipated result in advance so there are no surprises.
Is jaw surgery painful?
The procedure is done under anesthesia, so you feel nothing during it. Afterward, swelling and numbness are more common complaints than sharp pain, and your surgeon prescribes medication for recovery. Numbness in the lip or chin can linger as nerves recover, and your surgical team reviews what to expect.
Does insurance cover corrective jaw surgery?
Coverage varies by plan and often hinges on documented functional impairment rather than appearance. Surgical fees are billed separately by the surgeon’s office, frequently through medical rather than dental benefits. We verify your orthodontic coverage and arrange monthly payments for our portion; the surgeon’s office handles theirs.
Request a Complimentary Surgical Orthodontics Consultation in Akron
If you have been told your bite cannot be fully corrected with braces alone, or you have simply wondered why your jaw has never felt right, start with an evaluation. Reach Dietrich Family Orthodontics at (330) 864-2101 and our team will schedule a time that fits your week.
Find us at 1690 W Exchange St, Akron, OH 44313. Current hours for both of our locations are listed on our website, and we are glad to confirm them by phone. Patients closer to the south end of the region can also be seen in Wadsworth.
Bring your insurance card, any recent dental X-rays, and details of previous orthodontic treatment. The visit includes an examination, digital imaging, and an honest explanation of your options, whether or not surgery turns out to be part of them. There is no cost and no obligation.
We will tell you what we see, lay out the available paths, and let you decide from there.
Families who live closer to our Wadsworth office can read about surgical orthodontics in Wadsworth, OH instead, and we regularly welcome patients from Fairlawn and Copley. You can also request an appointment online at any hour.