Physician pecializing in:

• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Plastic Surgery / Reconstructive Surgery

Meaning “straight jaws,” orthognathic surgery refers to corrective surgery where the maxilla (upper jaw), the mandible (lower jaw), and dentoalveolar segments (sections of teeth) are repositioned to improve or restore bite, jaw function, facial contours, and/or speech. Jaw abnormalities and facial deformities may be caused by genetics, injury, or disease. While braces are commonly used to straighten teeth, many people require orthognathic surgery to properly align their bite. Orthognathic surgery is normally planned and executed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in conjunction with an orthodontist. Working together, the orthodontist will work to position the teeth so that they will properly “occlude” following jaw surgery. It is also common to plan other procedures in connection with the orthognathic surgery-such as those involving the chin, cheekbones, nose, or neck-in order to provide the optimal aesthetics and facial contouring to accompany a repositioned jaw. Orthognathic surgery is typically a “short stay” procedure during which facial bones are repositioned. Due to recent advancements in medical technologies and surgical materials, patients rarely experience having their “jaws wired shut,” known as intermaxillary fixation (IMF). Instead, today’s oral and maxillofacial surgeons use small titanium plates and screws to secure the patient's bones, allowing greater comfort and function to the patient during the immediate post-operative period.

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Dr. Marc Nevins is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. He is a Clinical Instructor in Periodontology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and is in the private practice of Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Nevins graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and he received his Certificate for Graduate Training in Periodontology and a Master of Medical Sciences in Oral Biology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Nevins has research interests in the fields of periodontal regeneration and the alteration of osseointegration in diabetes.