Barts and The London Centre for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

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  • > Facial, head and neck injuries
  • > Facial and dental deformities
  • > Treatment for salivary gland diseases
  • > Surgery of the hard and soft tissues supporting the teeth
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Facial and dental deformities

Orthognathic surgery for facial and dental deformities

Patients with facial and dental deformities benefit from our service known as orthognathic surgery.  Orthognathic surgery is used to create straight jaws and will help to correct facial deformities, eating and biting problems as well as speech abnormalities. There may be many health and psychological reasons why patients receive this form of surgery.  For example, they may experience restricted jaw movement that prevents them from chewing or speaking properly.  Some patients may also suffer from severe breathing or sleeping problems which may create a poor quality of life.

Some facial and dental deformities may also be linked to severe psychological and social problems.  Where possible, patients are referred to us at an early age, usually between the ages of 13 and 16 years old and surgery usually takes place in patients at 16 years of age when most jaw growth is complete. Our main aim is to correct the dental, jaw and facial disproportion and eliminate associated health and psychological problems.

Treatment is tailored to the individual patient’s needs and the orthodontist and surgeon will work together in combined clinics to ensure the highest quality of care.  State-of-the-art imaging facilities are always used to help the team of surgeons and orthodontists make the best treatment plans for fitting braces and moving teeth.  This normally happens prior to orthognathic surgery. 

Orthognathic surgery may involve the upper or lower jaw or possibly both.  The surgeon will explain everything to the patient and he/she should know exactly what to expect in terms of length of treatment and post operative care. 

Patients receiving this care will stay with us on Bedford Fenwick and Henry Butlin Wards at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and dedicated nurses will ensure that they are well cared for while recovering from their surgery.

Following surgery, patients will see their surgeon to check their face and jaw has healed.  They will continue to see their orthodontist who will make sure that the teeth are in the right place following surgery.