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What is distraction?
Orthodontic treatment does not always offer the expected result for people with a jaw irregularity, i.e. narrow upper jaw, narrow lower jaw or a shortened lower jaw (lower teeth too far behind upper teeth).
To correct these conditions, lengthening of the jaw may be required. The technique used is called Distraction osteogenesis of the craniofacial skeleton.
A distraction device will be fixed to the bone, on expansion of the device; the bone will be widened or lengthened.
Jaw surgery offers a way of correcting the "bite" between the upper and lower teeth and can often improve the facial expression.
First, the teeth will be aligned with fixed orthodontic appliances (consisting of bands, wires and brackets) placed by an orthodontist. These fixed appliances stay on the teeth during and after the surgery, until the necessary stability and ideal result is reached.
The treatment is coordinated by your dentist, an orthodontist and a maxillo-facial surgeon.
The complete treatment, orthodontics and surgery, takes approximately one and a half to two years.
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