At the present time, orthognatic surgery is a less traumatic and more advanced procedure. That is the reason why it became more practical for orthodontists to integrate it into their treatment planning. The changes in facial features as a result of improvement of skeletal deformities in orthognatic surgery were in fact remarkable. The objectives of orthognatic treatment for the enhancement of facial appearance may be achieved by orthodontic methods in children. However, varying approaches are used for different ages: orthognatic surgery in the adult for skeletal modification and growth modification in the adolescent.
Even the approaches are different; the aesthetic and functional goals for adolescent patients are similar to adult patients. Skeletal growth is no longer possible in adult patients, that is why orthognatic surgery is the most considered option. In adolescents, growth modification techniques may allow the orthodontist to direct growth to achieve dramatic facial transformations comparable to those achieved with surgery.
