Understanding Maxillofacial Surgery: When Orthodontics Is Not Enough

Orthodontics, Today's Dental Comfort

Maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics are two closely related fields in dental medicine, yet they serve different purposes and often complement each other in treating complex jaw and facial issues. Orthodontics focuses on aligning teeth and correcting bite issues with non-surgical methods such as braces or clear aligners. Maxillofacial surgery addresses jaw and facial concerns that involve the bones themselves. While orthodontics guides tooth movement, surgery corrects structural problems that cannot be improved through braces alone.

Why Is Your Jawbone Important?

Patient Education, Today's Dental Comfort

When you think about your oral health, the two main areas of concern that we speak of regularly are your teeth and gums; however, there is another area in the mouth that can also be cause for concern, and that is the jawbone. Although we typically give the jawbone very little thought, it holds your entire mouth together. The jawbone creates the guide for your face shape and holds all of your teeth in place.