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A Mismatch of Facial Proportions
The sizes of the upper and lower jaws can become mismatched from a variety of causes. This is often referred to as over- or under-bite.
In many cases, this discrepancy in size are severe enough to cause pain, snoring or sleep apnea, undue trauma to teeth, speech difficulties, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, and cosmetic deficits.
Modern surgical techniques can adjust the sizes of the jaws with no facial skin incisions and few long-term complications.
General Surgical Principles
The surgery is conducted in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. An experienced orthodontist brings the teeth into an appropriate alignment of the upper and lower teeth such that they fit well together after the jaws have been moved.
One or more of the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), and the chin may be adjusted during surgery. In most cases all incisions are made through the gums (gingiva) without the need for cuts along skin, which can cause scars.
The jaws are moved to their new positions and held in place using inert titanium plates that are MRI safe and that do not trigger metal detector alarms. In our practice, we utilize custom-made plates for each patient that are stronger, more accurate, and more stable.
The Scientific Basis of Our Orthognathic Practice
Dr. Sun is a pioneer in the use of custom-made titanium plates for use in orthognathic surgery. His most recent study helped demonstrate that custom, patient-specific plates contribute to the post-surgical stability and decrease the surgery length without increasing the rates of complications such as infection, relapse, or wound opening.
He has also authored past research on:
The accuracy of cone beam CT scans in analyses of facial features
The comparison of digital vs text instruction on producing more competent clinicians
As a full-scope oral-maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Sun continues to regularly teach and perform orthognathic surgery according to proven scientific principles.
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