Surgical Orthodontics in Cibolo, TX

Reviewed by Dr. Dima Kalakech, Board-Certified Orthodontist

What is surgical orthodontics? Surgical orthodontics, also called orthognathic surgery, combines braces or aligners with corrective jaw surgery to fix bite problems that tooth movement alone can’t solve. At Embrace Orthodontics, board-certified orthodontist Dr. Dima Kalakech plans and manages the orthodontic side of jaw-alignment treatment, working with trusted oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Just as “orthodontics” means straight teeth, “orthognathic” means straight jaws. When the jaws themselves are out of balance, moving teeth can only compensate so far. Surgical orthodontics repositions one or both jaws so the teeth, bite, and face all work together, improving chewing, speech, and breathing, and often appearance as well. It’s a specialty lane few practices in the Cibolo and Schertz area offer, and one Dr. K treats as a core part of her specialist training in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Signs You Might Need Corrective Jaw Surgery

Some conditions that may point to a jaw-level problem rather than a tooth-level one:

• Difficulty chewing, biting, or swallowing
• Chronic jaw or TMJ pain and frequent headaches
• Excessive wear on the teeth
• Open bite (a gap between upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
• An unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
• A receding chin or protruding jaw
• Lips that don’t meet without straining
• Chronic mouth breathing and dry mouth
• Sleep apnea and heavy snoring
• Facial injury or a jaw difference present from birth

Having one of these signs doesn’t automatically mean surgery. Many bite problems can be treated with braces or Invisalign® alone. The point of a specialist evaluation is to find out which category you’re in, honestly and early.

What Are the Different Types of Jaw Problems?

Orthodontists group jaw discrepancies into a few main patterns, and the pattern determines the treatment:

• Underbite (Class III): the lower jaw sits ahead of the upper jaw.
• Overbite or deep bite (Class II): the lower jaw sits too far back, or the bite closes too deeply.
• Open bite: the front teeth can’t touch even when the back teeth are closed, often affecting speech and biting.
• Crossbite and asymmetry: the jaws are shifted or grown side to side unevenly.
• Long or short face patterns: vertical growth differences that affect both bite and facial balance.

Mild versions of these patterns can often be camouflaged with orthodontics alone. Significant skeletal versions, especially in adults whose growth is complete, are where surgical orthodontics earns its place.

Do I Need Jaw Surgery, or Just Braces?

This is the question that brings most people to this page, and it deserves a specialist’s answer rather than a guess. In general:

• If the problem lives in the teeth (crowding, rotation, spacing, mild bite issues), orthodontics alone usually solves it.
• If the problem lies in the jaws (skeletal underbite, severe open bite, major asymmetry), braces can move teeth into camouflage positions, but only surgery can move the foundation.
• Growing patients sometimes have a third option: early orthodontic treatment can guide jaw growth and reduce the chance surgery is ever needed.

Dr. K evaluates the skeletal picture with modern imaging at a free consultation and tells you plainly which path fits your case, including when the answer is “you don’t need surgery.”

How Surgical Orthodontic Treatment Works

Phase 1: Pre-Surgical Orthodontics (6-18 months)

Braces move your teeth into the positions they’ll need to be in after the jaws are repositioned. Because the teeth are being set up for the new bite, your bite may temporarily look worse during this phase; that’s expected and planned.

Phase 2: The Surgery

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon repositions the jaw or jaws, usually working through incisions inside the mouth so there are no visible scars. Procedures take one to several hours in a hospital or surgical facility, and most people return to work or school within about two weeks.

Phase 3: Finishing and Retention (6-12 months)

About four to eight weeks after surgery, Dr. K fine-tunes the bite with final tooth movements. Braces typically come off within six to twelve months of surgery, followed by retainers to protect the result. Full bone healing continues for nine to twelve months, so excellent oral hygiene and every follow-up visit matter.

Breathing, Sleep and Your Jaw

Some of the strongest reasons for jaw surgery have nothing to do with appearance. A retruded lower jaw can narrow the airway, contributing to chronic mouth breathing, heavy snoring and sleep apnea. Repositioning the jaw can open that airway structurally, which is why sleep-related breathing problems appear on the evaluation checklist above. If you use a CPAP or have been told you snore dangerously, mention it at your consultation. It changes how Dr. K reads your imaging, and it may change your options.

Why Have Your Surgical Case Managed at Embrace

• Specialist planning. Dr. K is a board-certified orthodontist trained in dentofacial orthopedics, exactly the discipline surgical cases demand.
• Team coordination. We work hand in hand with experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons and your general dentist, so your case moves as one plan, not three.
• Local continuity. Your pre- and post-surgical orthodontic visits happen minutes from home in Cibolo, on a schedule built around healing.
• Proven care. A 5.0-star Google rating across more than 1,000 reviews reflects how we treat patients through long, complex treatments, not just easy ones.

Cost and Insurance for Surgical Orthodontics

Surgical orthodontic treatment involves two providers, the orthodontist and the surgeon, and often two kinds of coverage, since jaw surgery can fall under health benefits while orthodontics falls under dental benefits. Cost depends on the complexity of the jaw movement, the duration of the associated orthodontic treatment, and the surgical facility involved. Our treatment coordinator helps you verify what your plans cover and builds flexible, no-interest payment arrangements for the orthodontic portion. You’ll have clear numbers for your specific case, in writing, before anything begins.