We meet patients every day coming into our clinic unhappy with their smile and would like an aesthetic improvement. Correction of malocclusion is often done through orthodontic treatment and sometimes in conjunction with maxillofacial surgeries. To determine which is the most appropriate treatment option for our patients, a consultation with an orthodontist is necessary.
At the initial consultation, we will find out what are our patient's aesthetic concerns and conduct a clinical examination. We will also need to have x-rays of teeth and a side-view profile x-ray taken. With all this information, we will be able to assess what is the underlying problem, whether the cause of the malocclusion is just teeth related or whether there is a jaw size problem that has also contributed to the malocclusion.
In cases whereby malocclusion is caused by teeth only (e.g. crowding, teeth sticking out )with no underlying jaw issues, treatment can be done by orthodontics alone through braces or clear aligners like Invisalign. The treatment may or may not involve extraction as that will be determined by the teeth position and space required.
However, if there is an underlying jaw discrepancy, this jaw discrepancy can only be corrected through growth modification (in a growing child) or jaw surgery (in adults). Depending on the severity of the discrepancy and patient's expectation, this jaw discrepancy may be camouflaged through braces/Invisalign alone or corrected using a combined orthodontics/jaw surgery approached.
Do consult your orthodontist, who are specially trained to handle malocclusions and jaw growth issues so that he/she can discuss with you your problems and your possible treatment options so that you can make the best decision to achieve your desired outcome. A joint consultation with an oral maxillofacial surgeon will be done if a combined treatment is proposed.
