14. Long After Jaw Surgery and Orthodontics

 

When the bite is as optimal as it is possible, your orthodontist will remove the braces and place a retainer to maintain the dental alignment. 

 

It is important to remember that surgery and orthodontic treatment significantly change the facial skeletal and dental anatomy. The facial muscles and the jaw muscles will need to adapt to the new dental and facial skeleton. This takes time, from many months to years.

 

You should expect changes to occur as bone like muscle is living tissue and will continue to change until it reaches a new physiologic equilibrium. For these reason, we would like continue to follow you every 6 months or at least on an annual basis for a number of years (ideally 3-5 years) after surgery.