Surgical Orthodontics in Cedar Park, TX

Surgical orthodontics, also called orthognathic treatment, combines braces with jaw surgery to correct bite problems that braces alone cannot fix. At Cedar Park Smiles in Cedar Park, TX, Dr. Craig Taylor plans and directs these cases and coordinates the surgical step with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Some bites are a tooth problem. Others are a jaw problem wearing a tooth problem’s clothes. When the upper and lower jaws do not meet correctly, moving teeth can mask the appearance for a while, but it will not fix how you chew, how you speak, or how the joint behaves over time. That is where surgical orthodontics comes in.

What Is Surgical Orthodontics?

Surgical orthodontics is orthodontic treatment used to correct severe cases involving jaw discrepancies and malocclusion, which is the clinical term for a bite whose upper and lower halves do not fit together correctly. The jaw surgery itself is called orthognathic surgery, and it is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The orthodontist plans the case, positions the teeth before and after surgery, and owns the final result.

The two roles are separate on purpose. Your orthodontist decides where the teeth and jaws need to end up. Your surgeon repositions the bone to get them there.

When Is Orthognathic Surgery Needed?

Surgery enters the plan when the jaws do not line up and a correct bite cannot be reached by moving teeth alone. Common reasons include:

• A significant underbite, overbite, or open bite rooted in jaw position rather than tooth position
• Facial asymmetry caused by uneven jaw growth
• Difficulty chewing or biting food that alignment alone will not resolve
• A protruding lower jaw or a markedly receding chin
• Breathing and airway concerns tied to jaw structure

Timing matters. Orthognathic surgery is generally done after jaw growth is complete, which is typically around age 16 in females and 18 in males. In growing patients we often guide jaw development instead, which is why an early evaluation can sometimes reduce the need for surgery.

How We Work With Your Oral Surgeon

Cedar Park Smiles is an orthodontic practice. We do not perform jaw surgery here. What we do is diagnose the case, build the treatment plan, and co-manage it start to finish with a trusted oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

In practice that means Dr. Taylor takes the records, identifies the skeletal discrepancy, and determines the tooth positions the surgeon will need. Both offices agree on the sequence, and we stay in contact through the surgical phase. You are not left translating between two practices.

What the Treatment Sequence Looks Like

1. Consultation and records. A complimentary exam, imaging, and a diagnosis that identifies whether the problem is dental, skeletal, or both.
2. Pre-surgical orthodontics. Braces go on first, and the teeth are positioned so they will fit together correctly once the jaws are moved. This phase takes months, and the bite can look worse before it looks better. That is expected.
3. Surgery. Performed by the oral surgeon, in a hospital or surgical setting, under general anesthesia. Time in surgery depends on the case.
4. Healing. Most patients plan on roughly two weeks away from work or school for the initial recovery, with jaw healing continuing well beyond that.
5. Finishing orthodontics. Once healing allows, Dr. Taylor fine tunes the bite. Braces typically come off within six to twelve months after surgery.
6. Retention. A retainer holds the corrected result.

Orthodontic Care That Involves Minor Oral Surgery

Not every case that touches oral surgery is a jaw surgery case. We also coordinate:

• Exposure of impacted teeth. When a canine is trapped in the bone, a surgeon exposes it and we guide it into place with a bracket and light force.
• Extractions for orthodontic reasons. Occasionally, removing teeth creates the space a crowded arch needs. We identify which teeth and why, and refer for the extraction.
• Temporary anchorage devices. These small titanium anchors are placed in our office, not by a surgeon, and they let us move specific teeth with more control. In some cases they reduce how much surgery a case needs.

Risks, Recovery, and Being Honest About Both

Orthognathic surgery is major surgery and carries the risks any major surgery carries. It is also a well established procedure performed for decades. Your surgeon will review the specific risks in your case, and we would rather you ask every question you have before you commit than after.

Recovery is real but finite. Expect a soft diet, swelling that peaks and then subsides, and a period where talking and eating take effort.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surgical Orthodontics

Q: Is jaw surgery worth it? A: For the right case, yes. Patients who go through it typically gain a bite that functions correctly, relief from chewing and jaw strain, easier breathing in some cases, and a facial balance that braces alone could not produce. It is a significant commitment, so it should only be recommended when the alternative genuinely will not work.

Q: Does insurance cover orthognathic surgery? A: Sometimes, and it is usually handled differently from orthodontic benefits. Because the surgery addresses function, medical insurance may cover part of the surgical portion while orthodontic benefits apply to the braces. Coverage depends entirely on your plan. We verify your orthodontic benefits before your exam, and your surgeon’s office handles the medical pre authorization.

Q: How long will I be in braces if I need jaw surgery? A: Longer than a standard case, because treatment runs on both sides of the surgery. The pre surgical phase takes months, and braces usually come off within six to twelve months after the procedure. Dr. Taylor will give you a case specific timeline at the consultation.

Q: Am I old enough for jaw surgery? A: The jaws need to be finished growing, generally around 16 for females and 18 for males. Younger patients are usually monitored, and growth guidance can sometimes reduce what surgery would have to correct.

Q: Do you perform the surgery in your office? A: No. We are an orthodontic practice, and the surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in a surgical setting. We plan the case, handle every orthodontic phase, and coordinate directly with the surgeon.

Schedule a Surgical Orthodontics Consultation

If a dentist or surgeon has mentioned jaw surgery, or if your bite has never felt right, come in for a complimentary exam. You will get a clear answer about whether surgery is part of the picture.

Cedar Park Smiles 100 N Lakeline Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613 (512) 219-1389 Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm