The duration and sequencing of surgical-orthodontic treatment

A review of surgical-orthodontic patients treated through the University of North Carolina Dentofacial Program indicated that the duration of surgical treatment was roughly comparable to that of nonsurgical orthodontics for most patients; there was a greater chance of very long treatment when surgery was involved. Treatment times differed significantly among patients whose orthodontic treatment was done in the faculty practice, university clinic, or outside the university. Median treatment times were 18, 24, and 28 months, respectively, for the three practice settings, but some patients in each group underwent more than 48 months of treatment. After 1 year of presurgical treatment, two thirds of the faculty practice patients, but only one third of the clinic and private practice patients, were ready for surgery. Postsurgical orthodontic treatment of patients attending the faculty practice also was completed more quickly: appliances were removed within 9 months from 83% of faculty practice patients, 71% of clinic patients, and 53% of private patients. Guidelines for efficient management of surgical-orthodontic patients are presented.