Jaw surgery
in Auckland
When the jaws are significantly out of balance, braces or aligners alone can’t fully correct it - and that’s where orthodontics and jaw surgery work together. At Auckland City Orthodontics we plan and deliver the orthodontic side of your treatment across our four Auckland clinics, alongside a specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
BOOK A CONSULTATION
What is jaw
(orthognathic) surgery?
Orthognathic surgery corrects the size and position of the jaws themselves, not just the teeth. It’s used for more significant differences - such as a pronounced underbite, overbite or open bite, or facial imbalance - that affect how you bite, chew and sometimes breathe.
Braces or clear aligners align your teeth before and after; the surgery, performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, repositions the jaws. Together, the two can achieve results that neither could on its own.
Is it
right for you?
Jaw surgery is only recommended when it’s genuinely the best way to reach a healthy, stable result - and always after a thorough assessment. Your Specialist Orthodontist will look at how your teeth and jaws fit and function, and give you your best options. It may be worth considering where there is:
- A pronounced underbite, overbite or open bite
- Noticeable facial or jaw asymmetry
- Difficulty biting, chewing or, in some cases, breathing
- A skeletal difference that braces or aligners can’t address alone
In some situations a non-surgical approach, such as adult MARPE or braces, may be an alternative - and we’ll always tell you if it is.
How treatment works
Jaw-surgery treatment is a team effort, coordinated closely between your Specialist Orthodontist and your surgeon. Our Specialist Orthodontists’ training includes complex and surgical cases, so the orthodontic planning is in experienced hands.
It generally happens in three stages, with the exact timings tailored to you.
1. Before surgery
Pre-surgical orthodontics with braces or clear aligners aligns your teeth and prepares the bite for its new position - often around 12 to 18 months.
2. Surgery
Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon repositions the jaw or jaws. We coordinate closely with them throughout, so the plan stays seamless.
3. After surgery
Finishing orthodontics refines the bite as everything settles, and then a retainer helps keep your new smile stable for the long term.
Jaw surgery FAQs
Orthognathic surgery corrects the size and position of the jaws themselves, not just the teeth. It’s used for more significant differences - such as a pronounced underbite, overbite or open bite, or facial imbalance - that braces or aligners alone can’t fully correct. Orthodontics aligns the teeth before and after; a surgeon repositions the jaws.
No - we plan and deliver the orthodontic part of your treatment, and work closely alongside a specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon who performs the surgery itself. You have a coordinated team, with your Specialist Orthodontist guiding the overall plan from start to finish.
Jaw-surgery treatment is a journey rather than a quick fix - often around two years in total, including orthodontics before and after the operation. Your orthodontist and surgeon will give you a clear timeline once your plan is set.
For the right person, correcting a significant jaw difference can make a real difference to how you bite, chew and feel about your smile. It’s also a serious commitment, so it’s only ever recommended after a thorough assessment and an honest conversation about the benefits and what’s involved.
Yes. Orthodontics is a key part of jaw-surgery treatment - braces or clear aligners align your teeth in the lead-up to surgery, and then refine the bite afterwards as everything settles into its new position.
Only a proper assessment can tell. Your Specialist Orthodontist will look at how your teeth and jaws fit and function, discuss what you want to achieve, and be honest about whether surgery is genuinely needed or whether an approach such as adult MARPE or braces could work instead.
Book a Consultation
Considering
jaw surgery?
Start with a free consultation. A Specialist Orthodontist will assess your teeth, jaws and bite, explain whether surgery is the right path, and coordinate your care with a trusted oral and maxillofacial surgeon. You can book at any of our four Auckland clinics or start with a free virtual consultation.
BOOK A CONSULTATION*Terms and conditions apply. Some consultations - including some for children under 12, referrals, transfers and second opinions - attract a $250 fee.