Orthodontic management of dentofacial skeletal deformities

The treatment of complex malocclusions with overriding skeletal discrepancies requires an exceptional amount of pretreatment planning. The roles of the orthodontist and the surgeon are equally important. Sufficient input from each member of the orthognathic surgical team is necessary before any patient care is delivered. Because the goals of presurgical orthodontic treatment are more often than not opposite to the routine orthodontic regimen, detailed planning, using diagnostic orthodontic set-ups and predictive visual imaging, is often needed to confirm the procedures necessary to create an aesthetic and functional result. Without this integrated team approach, successful outcomes of treatment can be problematic.