Treatment Options

Dentofacial Orthopedics

What is dentofacial orthopedics? Many patients wonder what it means when their orthodontist specializes in dentofacial orthopedics. This specialization means that your doctor has training and experience in working with the management of tooth movement (orthodontics) as well as the guidance of facial growth and development (dentofacial orthopedics), which usually occurs largelyduring childhood.  Appliances are frequently used —  the more familiar braces for orthodontics, and other specialized appliances like headgear and expanders depending on what facial abnormalities are present. Sometimes orthopedic treatment may precede conventional braces, but often the two are used at the same time. So if your child gets braces and headgear, he's actually undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Surgical Orthodontics

Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) treats and corrects abnormalities of the facial bones, specifically the jaws and the teeth. Often, these abnormalities cause difficulty associated with chewing, talking, sleeping and other routine activities. Orthognathic surgery corrects these problems and, in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, will improve the overall appearance of the facial profile. Using the latest in digital imaging technology, we will demonstrate the overall functional and aesthetic benefits of orthognathic surgery. Computerized treatment planning minimizes treatment times, recovery periods and the overall efficacy of your surgery. State-of-the-art materials such as titanium plates and miniature screws provide stability, strength and predictability to your treatment. These advances in technology, procedures and equipment reduce post-surgical recovery time, thus allowing patients to return to their normal routines soon after the surgery. If it is determined that the best treatment option for you is Combined Orthodontic/Orthognathic surgery we will then refer you to an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon for a surgical consultation before starting your Orthodontic treatment.