Surgery-first orthognathic approach case series: Salient features and guidelines

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Conventional orthognathic surgery requires extensive pre- and post-surgical orthodontic treatment, often spanning 3-4 years.
• The surgery-first orthognathic approach (SFOA) prioritizes surgical intervention before orthodontic alignment.
• The regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP), a phase of heightened tissue metabolic activity post-surgery, is key to SFOA's efficiency.

Observation:

• SFOA involves performing orthognathic surgery initially, followed by orthodontic treatment to correct occlusion and dental alignment.
• The regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP) is observed to facilitate orthodontic movement after surgery in the SFOA model.
• Case studies highlight the practical application, selection criteria, and strategic considerations for SFOA.

Findings:

• SFOA harnesses the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP) to expedite orthodontic treatment post-surgery.
• This approach notably reduces the overall treatment duration compared to conventional methods.
• The article details two case studies, examining SFOA's advantages, limitations, and specific treatment protocols.

Implications:

• SFOA offers a potentially less exhaustive and more efficient treatment pathway for orthognathic patients.
• Understanding and utilizing RAP is crucial for optimizing SFOA outcomes.
• The findings support SFOA as a viable alternative, warranting further investigation into its long-term efficacy and broader applicability.