Surgical Orthodontics in Fishers, IN
When Teeth Are Not the Problem
Most bite problems are solved by moving teeth. A minority are not, because the jaws themselves sit in the wrong relationship to each other. No appliance repositions a jaw bone, so in those cases orthodontics can align the teeth beautifully within jaws that still do not meet.
That is the situation surgical orthodontics addresses. Orthodontics positions the teeth so the bite will work once the jaws are corrected, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon repositions the jaws, and orthodontics finishes the alignment afterwards. The surgery itself is performed by the surgeon, not at this practice.
Presentations That Warrant Assessment
| 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 |
Appearing on that list does not mean surgery is required. It means the skeletal relationship should be measured properly before anyone concludes anything.
How a Combined Plan Runs
Records and imaging first, to establish whether the discrepancy is dental or skeletal and by how much. Then a course of orthodontics to position the teeth for the planned correction — which can temporarily make the bite look worse, and that is expected. Surgery follows, then a final orthodontic phase, then retention.
It is a long road, measured in years rather than months, and it is coordinated between the orthodontic side and your surgeon rather than handed off. You should be given the whole sequence in writing before you agree to any of it.
The Case for a Second Look
Plenty of adults are told somewhere along the way that they will need jaw surgery, and some of them will not. Others have spent years being treated for symptoms while nobody measured the skeletal relationship underneath.
Either way, the useful step is a proper assessment with imaging. If your case can be managed orthodontically, you should know that. If it genuinely cannot, you should know that too, along with what the alternative actually delivers.
One thing to be clear about: a combined plan is a genuine commitment, involving a hospital procedure, a recovery period and a diet that is restricted for weeks afterwards. Nobody should walk into that on the strength of an opinion offered in passing. Equally, nobody should spend years in appliance treatment chasing a result that was never achievable without moving the jaws.
Cost and Insurance
There are usually two benefits in play: orthodontic coverage for our work and, where the problem is functional, potentially medical coverage for the surgical portion. Both are checked for your specific plan. See pricing, payment plans and insurance, and your first visit for the first visit.
Visiting the Fishers Office
We are our office at 13910 Olivia Way Unit 100, Fishers, IN 46037, on Olivia Way, just off Olio Road, an easy drive from Geist, Fortville, McCordsville and southern Noblesville.
O·M·I Orthodontics, 13910 Olivia Way Unit 100, Fishers, IN 46037. Phone (317) 939-6600. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. Our Fishers office page has directions and parking. Surgical orthodontics in Fort Wayne, IN covers the same assessment at our northern Indiana office, and all three offices lists every location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you perform the jaw surgery?
No. The surgery is carried out by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. We plan and deliver the orthodontic phases and coordinate the treatment.
How long does the whole thing take?
Years rather than months, because orthodontics runs before and after the surgery. You get a case-specific sequence at the consultation.
Is it covered by insurance?
Often partly. The surgical portion is sometimes covered medically where the problem is functional, and orthodontic coverage is separate.
Could I avoid surgery and just have braces?
For a genuine skeletal discrepancy in an adult, appliances can align the teeth but cannot move the jaws. Whether that compromise is acceptable is a decision to make with the facts in front of you.
Why would my bite look worse partway through?
Because the teeth are being positioned for where the jaws will be after surgery, not where they are now. It is planned, and it is temporary.
What if my case turns out not to be skeletal?
Then you have avoided surgery you did not need. Adult orthodontics covers what orthodontic treatment alone can do.
Other treatments we offer: Braces treatment · Clear aligner · Early treatment · Retainers and post-treatment care. all services.
Get Jaw Surgery Assessed Properly First
Before accepting that you need jaw surgery, have the skeletal relationship examined properly. Dr. Joel Johnson will tell you at a free consultation whether your case is genuinely skeletal, what orthodontics alone could achieve, and what a combined plan would involve.
The same skeletal assessment is offered at our Auburn office — see surgical orthodontics in Auburn.
Our Fishers office is at 13910 Olivia Way Unit 100, Fishers, IN 46037, on Olivia Way, just off Olio Road. 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 (317) 939-6600.