A surgeon's perspective on the uncorrected skeletal deformity. Part I: Unintended consequences on facial structures...

It is not uncommon for orthodontists to encounter patients whose malocclusion results, at least in part, from an underlying skeletal discrepancy. In many patients, these discrepancies can be fully corrected with growth modification with or without dental compensation to achieve a Class I occlusal relationship. A subset of patients with moderate skeletal deformities in whom surgery is ideally indicated but who choose to defer surgical treatment may be at risk for long-term adverse consequences on facial esthetics. As a surgeon who performs both orthognathic and facial esthetic surgery, the senior author has had the opportunity to appreciate the contributions of underlying skeletal deformities to his patients' esthetic concerns. These patients often present years after orthodontic treatment with complaints of early facial soft tissue laxity, facial disproportion, and overall dissatisfaction with facial appearance. The authors hope to illustrate to the orthodontic community the clinical picture of adult patients who present to the offices of surgeons dissatisfied with their appearance secondary to the uncorrected skeletal deformity. This paper aims to increase orthodontists' awareness of the long-term effects of uncorrected skeletal dysplasia on facial appearance. The ultimate goal is to allow the informed consent process to incorporate these esthetic consequences and to facilitate patient decision making. This article serves as Part I of a 2-part series reviewing a surgeon's approach to patients who present with facial skeletal disharmony after orthodontic treatment with dental compensation.