Jaw Surgery and Braces Working as One Treatment
Not every bite problem is a tooth problem. Some are a matter of proportion, where one jaw grew longer, shorter, or wider than the other, and no amount of tooth movement can bridge the gap. Treating those cases means combining orthodontics with corrective jaw surgery, an approach known as surgical orthodontics or orthognathic treatment.
Two clinicians share the work. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon repositions the bone. The orthodontist prepares the teeth beforehand so the arches will interlock in the new position, then finishes the bite after healing. Neither half succeeds without the other, which is why the plan is written jointly from the beginning.
Patients from Wadsworth, Rittman, Barberton, and Norton are seen for the orthodontic side of this care at our office at 787 High St. Dietrich Family Orthodontics has served families in the area since 1966, and Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS has practiced orthodontics since 1992.
Skeletal patterns that commonly lead to this discussion:
- Lower jaw set too far back. The chin looks recessive in profile and the upper front teeth appear to jut forward even after alignment.
- Lower jaw grown too far forward. The result is an underbite, with the lower teeth ahead of the uppers.
- Vertical mismatch. An open bite where the front teeth stay apart, or a very deep bite where the lowers disappear behind the uppers.
- Asymmetry. One side of the jaw is longer than the other, tilting the bite and shifting the chin off center.
- Upper jaw deficiency. A flat midface, narrow smile, and lack of support beneath the cheeks.
Distinguishing a skeletal pattern from a dental one takes proper records. Digital radiographs let us compare jaw positions directly, while iTero® digital scanning provides the accurate three-dimensional arch models that surgical planning software requires.
Reasons Wadsworth Patients Pursue Surgical Orthodontics
Surgical orthodontics in Wadsworth, OH treats bites that are structurally, not just cosmetically, off. Aligning the jaw bones can bring the back teeth into even contact, take pressure off overloaded front teeth, make lip closure effortless, correct chewing that has never worked properly, and improve facial proportion in a way braces alone cannot deliver.
The motivations we hear most often are practical ones:
- Eating without strategy. Patients with open bites frequently cannot bite through a sandwich and have learned workarounds. Closing the bite ends that.
- Ending a slow decline in the front teeth. Teeth forced to absorb forces they were never positioned for chip, wear flat, and lose gum support over time.
- Resolving lip strain. When the jaws do not meet, keeping the lips together requires constant muscular effort that patients stop noticing until it is gone.
- A durable result instead of a compromise. Tipping teeth to mask a skeletal difference can leave roots in thin bone. Correcting the bones removes that trade-off.
- Profile balance. Chin projection, lip position, and lower face height all shift with the jaws, so the change registers in the face as well as the bite.
- Breathing considerations. Advancement of one or both jaws enlarges the space behind the tongue in some patients, an effect your surgeon assesses individually.
What Your Treatment Calendar Looks Like
Combined care runs in four blocks of time: an evaluation and joint diagnosis, an orthodontic preparation period, the surgical event with its recovery, and a finishing period that ends in retainers.
Evaluation and joint diagnosis
Your first appointment on High St costs nothing and produces a clear answer about whether your bite is dental, skeletal, or a mix. We take digital X-rays, an iTero® scan, and photographs, then examine function. If the skeleton is the issue, we outline the combined route and refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for a parallel opinion before you decide anything.
Orthodontic preparation
Braces are placed and each arch is leveled independently. During this stretch, the teeth are moved out of the compensated positions they drifted into, which can make the bite look temporarily less flattering. That is expected. The arches are being shaped to fit the jaw relationship the surgeon will create, not the one you have now. This is usually the longest block on the calendar.
Surgical planning and the procedure
Fresh records go to the surgical team for digital planning, where the intended movements are simulated and surgical guides are produced. The operation itself happens at a hospital or surgical facility under anesthesia, generally through incisions inside the mouth, with plates and screws stabilizing the repositioned bone. Your surgeon reviews the recovery timeline, diet stages, and activity limits with you directly.
Finishing and retention
After your surgeon clears you to resume orthodontic visits, we begin detailing: closing residual spaces, settling the teeth into full contact, and refining the alignment now that the foundation is corrected. Braces come off once the bite is stable, and custom retainers are delivered with a schedule we review together.
Every block varies in length according to the movement planned and individual healing. We provide a projected range once your records and the surgeon’s plan are in hand, and we update it as treatment progresses.
Is Surgical Orthodontics the Right Fit for You?
Three questions decide it. Is the discrepancy skeletal? Has facial growth finished? And are you medically and personally prepared for a surgical procedure with a recovery period?
Adults, and teens who have stopped growing
Jaw surgery waits for growth to complete, since a jaw that is still developing can drift after being repositioned. That threshold arrives at different ages for different patients, and imaging helps confirm it. Growing children with similar patterns are usually managed with growth-guiding appliances instead, which is a different discipline entirely.
Cases where orthodontics alone will do
Plenty of bites that look severe are treatable with braces or Invisalign® clear aligners by themselves. Mild to moderate discrepancies, crowding, spacing, and rotations rarely need surgical help. We would rather show you why an operation is unnecessary than include one you can do without.
Preparation on the dental side
Untreated cavities and gum inflammation need resolving with your general dentist before appliances go on, and hygiene has to stay strong through a long treatment span. Your surgeon separately reviews your medical history, medications, and fitness for anesthesia.
The main procedures and what each one addresses
| Procedure | Jaw or area involved | Problem it is used to address |
|---|---|---|
| Upper jaw osteotomy | Maxilla | Midface deficiency, excessive gum display, open bite, narrow upper arch |
| Lower jaw osteotomy | Mandible | A lower jaw positioned too far back or too far forward |
| Two-jaw procedure | Maxilla and mandible together | Larger discrepancies, asymmetry, or vertical problems needing both jaws moved |
| Genioplasty | Chin | Chin projection or height that remains out of balance after the jaws are set |
| Surgically assisted expansion | Upper jaw width | A constricted upper arch in an adult whose palatal suture has fused |
Which of these applies to you is the surgeon’s determination, made from the joint plan. We explain the likely direction at your consultation so the surgical visit is not your first exposure to the idea.
Why Choose Dietrich Family Orthodontics in Wadsworth
Long, multi-office cases succeed or fail on organization and honesty. Both are things you can expect here:
- Nearly sixty years in this community. The practice opened in 1966 and our High St office is convenient for Wadsworth, Rittman, Doylestown, and Medina patients.
- An experienced orthodontist directing the plan. Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS began practicing orthodontics in 1992 and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Ohio Dental Association.
- A conservative recommendation first. Surgery enters the conversation only when the anatomy calls for it.
- Records your surgical team can plan from. iTero® digital scanning supplies precise arch models, no impression trays involved.
- Clear handoffs. We time the preparation phase around the surgical schedule and stay in contact with the surgeon’s office through the case.
- Two locations. Our Akron office is available when a Wadsworth appointment slot will not work for you.
- Payment planning for the orthodontic portion. Insurance benefits are verified and monthly plans arranged upfront; surgical billing is handled by the surgeon’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surgical Orthodontics in Wadsworth, OH
What does recovery actually involve?
Your surgeon owns this part of the plan, and specifics differ by procedure. In general, expect noticeable swelling that peaks in the first several days, a staged diet that starts with liquids and progresses through soft foods, restrictions on strenuous activity, and follow-up appointments to monitor healing. Most people arrange time away from work or school.
Can this be done with Invisalign® instead of braces?
Surgical cases traditionally use fixed appliances, because braces provide the anchorage and precise control needed to prepare arches and hold them steady through surgery. Aligner-based approaches exist in certain situations. Whether yours is one of them is a case-by-case judgment we make with your surgeon.
Do I keep my braces on during the operation?
Yes, in most cases. The braces are part of the surgical setup and may be used with elastics or fixation during healing, so they stay in place until the finishing phase is complete. That is why the appliances go on well before the surgery date rather than after.
How do I know my orthodontist and surgeon are on the same page?
Because the plan is built together. We share records, imaging, and treatment goals with the surgical office, and the timing of your preparation phase is set against the intended surgical date. You should hear a consistent explanation from both offices, and if you do not, ask us.
What if I decide against surgery?
That decision is yours, and it is a legitimate one. We can often improve alignment and appearance meaningfully with orthodontics alone, while being clear about which parts of the bite will remain compromised. Understanding those limits in advance is far better than discovering them at the end.
Where do I start?
With a complimentary consultation at our Wadsworth office. You will get records, an examination, and a direct explanation of whether your bite is skeletal in nature, along with the realistic options in front of you.
Book a Free Consultation at Our Wadsworth Office
Living with a bite that never quite worked is common, and finding out what can be done about it takes one appointment. Call (330) 334-1698 to reach Dietrich Family Orthodontics and our team will set you up.
Our Wadsworth location is 787 High St, Wadsworth, OH 44281. Hours are published on our website and staff will confirm them when you phone. The Akron office is a second option if it fits your schedule better.
Bring along your insurance information, recent dental X-rays if you have them, and a record of any orthodontic treatment you have had before. The appointment includes an examination, digital records, and a candid assessment, at no charge.
You will leave knowing what is causing the problem and what your realistic choices are.
Families who live closer to our Akron office can read about surgical orthodontics in Akron, OH instead, and we regularly welcome patients from Rittman and Doylestown. You can also request an appointment online at any hour.