Orthognathic surgery comes from the greek for "orthos" aligned, "gnathos" jaws, literally meaning alignment of the jaws.  People with misaligned jaws have two problems:

1. A malocclusion (a bad bite)
2. Abnormal facial proportions

This surgery takes people with misaligned jaws and corrects both problems.  By surgically correcting the position of the jaws the bite is fixed while improving facial proportions and thus facial esthetics.  Orthognathic surgery is a functional surgery.  It takes people who can not chew and sometimes speak properly and restores normal function.  All while improving a patient's look.

Sometimes braces alone can not fix a person's bite.  In these cases there is a skeletal problem and surgery is the proper solution.  The surgery requires that the abnormal dental compensations are removed with presurgical braces, however.  This sets up the teeth so that the there is maximum benefit from the surgery.

It is estimated that approximately 2.5% of the U.S. population has facial proportions and severe malocclusion that would put these individuals into a dentofacial deformity category.

Refer to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons website for more information:

http://www.aaoms.org/jaw_surgery.php