Surgical Orthodontics in Auburn, IN
When the Jaws, Not the Teeth, Are the Problem
Some bites cannot be fixed by moving teeth, because the mismatch is in where the jaws sit. A lower jaw well behind or ahead of the upper, an open bite that will not close, pronounced asymmetry — those are skeletal problems, and correcting them combines orthodontic treatment with jaw surgery carried out by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Dr. Joel Johnson plans the orthodontic half of those cases and coordinates the sequence with your surgeon. The first thing he establishes is whether you belong in this category at all. Some Auburn patients arrive expecting surgery and turn out to be treatable with orthodontics alone; others have been told for years to live with something correctable.
Why Growth Decides the Route
In a growing child, jaw position can sometimes be influenced while the bones are still developing — the reasoning behind Early orthodontic treatment. Once growth finishes, that option closes and a significant skeletal discrepancy can only be changed surgically.
| Presentation | How it shows up | How it is approached |
|---|---|---|
| Lower jaw set back or forward | Bite will not meet however the teeth are aligned | Orthodontics before and after surgery; the jaws are repositioned by an oral surgeon |
| Open bite that will not close | Front teeth never touch, chewing is compromised | Assessed for skeletal cause first; some cases are orthodontic only |
| Marked facial asymmetry | One side of the jaw sits differently from the other | Imaging determines whether the cause is skeletal before any surgical plan |
| Function or airway concerns | Wear, joint symptoms, or breathing flagged by a physician | Coordinated plan with your surgeon and, where relevant, your physician |
The decision is usually driven by function rather than looks: chewing that does not work, uneven wear, joint symptoms, or airway concerns raised by a physician or dentist.
The Shape of a Combined Case
These cases run longer than routine orthodontics and involve two providers, so it helps to know the sequence up front.
Stage one is diagnostic and it is the stage that decides everything else: records, imaging, and a judgement on whether the mismatch is skeletal or merely dental. Where it is skeletal, the two providers agree a written plan and an order of operations before a single bracket is placed. Appliances usually go on well ahead of theatre, arranging the teeth so that repositioned jaws will actually meet; the operation itself belongs to the surgeon; the finishing work returns to us afterwards. Retention then runs indefinitely, as it does after any case.
Total duration is counted in years and varies enormously by case. Treat any number quoted to you before imaging as marketing.
What Auburn Patients Ask Before Committing
Most people arriving at this conversation have already been told something alarming by someone else, often years ago, and have not been given a plan. The useful first step is smaller than they expect: confirm the diagnosis, then look at what each realistic route achieves and costs. Nobody at this office needs an answer on the day, and a second opinion before a surgical commitment is entirely reasonable — we will hand over your records to support one.
Coordination is the other recurring question. Auburn patients want to know how many separate places they will be dealing with. The answer is two: this office for the orthodontic work, and the surgeon for the procedure, on a sequence agreed in advance between us rather than negotiated as it goes.
Why the Orthodontic Planning Matters Most
The surgeon repositions the jaws. The orthodontist determines where the teeth must be for that repositioning to produce a bite that works.
- Dr. Johnson establishes whether your case is genuinely skeletal before anyone mentions an operating room.
- University of Michigan orthodontic residency, with an adjunct clinical faculty appointment there.
- The orthodontic plan is built with your surgeon’s plan rather than alongside it.
- Alternatives explained honestly, including the limits of what orthodontics alone can do.
- One orthodontist across a multi-year case, so no one inherits it halfway through.
- Records and imaging taken here, so diagnosis starts from your anatomy rather than a referral letter.
Fees, Coverage and Monthly Payments
There are two fees in a combined case: ours for orthodontic treatment and the surgeon’s for the procedure and facility. Where the problem is functional, the surgical portion is sometimes covered by medical insurance, which is separate from your orthodontic benefit. We are specific about our fee and will help you frame the questions for your carrier. pricing, payment plans, insurance, your first visit.
Finding Our Auburn Office
our office at 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706, on West Seventh Street, a few minutes from the I-69 Auburn exit — convenient for a treatment that involves more visits over a longer period than most.
O·M·I Orthodontics, 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706. Phone (260) 925-0300. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone tell me over the phone whether surgery is needed?
No, and be sceptical of anyone who tries. It takes imaging of the jaw relationship, which is what the complimentary exam provides — and the answer is often no.
Where does the operation happen?
With an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, under their care. Our responsibility is the orthodontic half of the plan and the coordination between the two.
If my child has a similar bite, can it be headed off?
Possibly, and that is precisely why children are evaluated young. While the skeleton is still developing there is scope to influence how the jaws relate; once maturity arrives, that scope disappears.
Should I expect this to take a long time?
Yes — three phases stacked end to end put these cases in years, not months. What you receive at the consultation is a plan for your case rather than a published average.
Which insurance pays for what?
Two different benefits are usually in play: your orthodontic coverage for our work, and potentially medical coverage for the surgical side when the problem is functional rather than cosmetic. We quote our portion exactly and help you put the right questions to your carrier.
Can I decline surgery and treat the teeth only?
Often, and plenty of patients do. Understand the ceiling: appliances can align teeth within the jaws you have, but they cannot relocate the jaws themselves. Adult orthodontics describes what that route realistically delivers.
Other treatments we offer: Braces treatment · Clear aligner · Retainers and post-treatment care. all services.
Find Out Whether Surgery Is Really Needed
Before accepting that you need jaw surgery, have the skeletal relationship assessed properly. Dr. Joel Johnson will tell you at a free consultation whether your case is genuinely skeletal, what orthodontics alone can achieve, and what a combined plan would involve.
The same consultation is offered at our Fort Wayne location — see surgical orthodontics in Fort Wayne. If your case turns out not to be skeletal, adult orthodontics in Auburn explains what treatment on its own can achieve.
The Fishers office offers the same assessment — see surgical orthodontics in Fishers.
Our Auburn office is at 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706, on West Seventh Street, a few minutes from the I-69 Auburn exit. Patients are seen Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. You can book your complimentary consultation online, send us a message, or call (260) 925-0300.