What Is Post-Surgical Orthodontics After Jaw Surgery?
After your jaw is repositioned, your bite still needs fine-tuning. Here is what post-surgical orthodontics involves.
Post-surgical orthodontics is the phase of braces treatment that follows orthognathic surgery. It typically lasts 4β6 months.
- What happens during this phase:
- Your orthodontist adjusts your braces to fine-tune the bite
- You continue wearing elastics to guide the teeth into their final position
- Teeth move faster after surgery because the bone is healing (called the "regional acceleratory phenomenon")
- The bite progressively settles into its final, stable position
- How it differs from pre-surgical orthodontics:
- Pre-surgery: teeth moved to their ideal position within each jaw (decompensation)
- Post-surgery: teeth are fine-tuned to fit together between the jaws
- Post-surgery is typically much shorter (4β6 months vs. 12β18 months)
- Your role during this phase:
- Wear elastics exactly as instructed
- Attend regular appointments (every 4β8 weeks)
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene
- Report any bite changes or concerns
When Braces Come Off
- Braces are typically removed when:
- Your bite is stable and comfortable
- X-rays show your teeth are in the correct position
- Your orthodontist and surgeon agree the result is optimal
Clinical Guidance
Post-surgical orthodontics lasts 4β6 months and fine-tunes your bite after the jaw is repositioned. This phase is shorter than pre-surgical orthodontics because teeth move faster during bone healing.