Complex Treatments

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Complex Dental Cases

The cases we treat at Mount Lawley Orthodontics have a wide variety of complexity, ranging from simple movements of a few teeth right up to comprehensive cases where all of the teeth are realigned and the jaws that contain them are modified to result in the best smile possible.

Complex cases may require the additional services of your General Dental Practitioner or another specialist Dentist, such as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who can perform Surgical Orthodontics known as Orthognathic surgery to correct severe malocclusions or jaw bone abnormalities.

Orthognathic Surgery

Generally speaking, Surgical Orthodontics is used to treat adults when jaw growth has finished but where the malocclusion is severe enough that it cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatment alone. Surgery is utilised to align the jaws and Orthodontics moves teeth into the correct position.

During your consultation, your Doctor will advise you if Orthognathic surgery is recommended to achieve the best result. Depending on the severity of your malocclusion this may or may not be indicated.

Your Orthognathic surgeon will discuss the procedure in depth prior to the operation which takes place in a hospital setting. Braces are usually worn for a period prior to Surgery. Once the surgery is complete you will require a 1-2 week initial recovery period so it is a good idea to co-ordinate your operation just prior to a scheduled time away from work or study . After surgery your braces will be used to refine the result and are generally removed 6-12 months later.

As with any major surgery there are some risks. However, the process is well-established and has been performed under carefully controlled circumstances for many years. Your surgeon will outline any risks with you during your Surgery consultation.

Surgery can assist in achieving a stable occlusion that is healthy and easy to maintain. For many patients the most important reward of surgery is the achievement of a beautiful smile that restores loss of confidence resulting from a malocclusion.

Before & After Jaw Surgery

These are “Before and after” pictures of two of our patients to show the sort of results that can be gained with combination of orthodontics and Jaw surgery.

Case 1: Before & After

Case 2: Before & After

Additional Specialist Services

Additional specialist services that may be recommended include a Prosthodontist who can replace or restore missing, damaged or genetically abnormal teeth.

A Periodontist could be asked to carry out a procedure on your gums, or maintain the health of the gums and surrounding structures of your teeth before, during and after your treatment.

The team at Mount Lawley Orthodontics are dedicated to administering the complexities of your treatment. Following your initial visit we will provide a detailed plan. This plan may include the recommended services of one or some of these other niche services. Throughout treatment we will liaise with these other Dentists to produce effortless co-ordination.

Temporary Anchorage Devices

TADs or Temporary Anchorage Devices serve as anchors for moving specific teeth in a controlled and predictable way. These are tiny special screws placed into bone. TADs are made of sterile medical grade titanium alloy. These devices often reduce or eliminate the need for surgery, headgear, and other auxiliary appliances. They allow treatment of certain cases that were nearly impossible to treat before this technique was refined.

Cone Beam X-ray of Complex Case

Image of TAD