Is orthognathic surgery medically necessary?
on November 1, 2016
It is not uncommon for insurance companies to question the medical necessity of orthognathic surgery. Certainly, the most noticeable benefit of orthognathic surgery is the cosmetic improvement. However, the objective of the surgery is not always cosmetic enhancement but a functional r …
Does facial asymmetry need corrective jaw surgery?
on October 14, 2016
Once of the features we look for when doing a facial aesthetic assessment is symmetry. It is generally believed that symmetry is good and is essential for aesthetics. However, the human face is never perfectly symmetrical. In fact, the human body is not symmetrical. The right side of …
Is orthognathic surgery plastic surgery?
on September 14, 2016
"Ortho" means straight, and "gnathic" means jaw. Together, orthognathic surgery refers to “straightening” of the jaws, ie correcting any “crookedness” or deformity of the jaws. "Plastic", refers to changing or moulding shape, and plastic surgery then refers to surgery that changes the …
Is there an age limit for corrective jaw surgery?
on September 13, 2016
Dentofacial deformities usually become apparent to the patient and their parents during the puberty growth spurt. The body undergoes a lot of changes during this period. Facial changes are most noticeable by parents and while most changes are a normal part of growing, disproportionate …
Is undergoing corrective jaw surgery worth it?
on September 13, 2016
Dentofacial deformities are common in Singapore. In fact, there is not a single day that I can walk around Singapore without seeing someone in the streets who has a face that can be improved aesthetically with corrective jaw surgery. Some people are not bothered by their deformities a …
The value of “before and after” photos in orthognathic surgery.
on September 6, 2016
Patients seeking orthognathic surgery seek both functional and cosmetic goals. Some are primarily motivated by functional objectives but in my 20 years of doing orthognathic surgery, the vast majority of are motivated by the expected cosmetic outcomes. This is not surprising given tha …
Can Invisalign be used with Corrective Jaw Surgery in Singapore?
on July 14, 2016
One of the common bugbears of orthognathic patients is the need to have braces for two years or more. Many of them are young adults with an active social life and having metal tracks in the mouth is not exactly a positive fashion statement. Invisalign, a system of transparent orthodon …
Facial contouring with orthognathic surgery in Singapore
on July 11, 2016
Facial contouring surgery consists of augmentation and reduction of facial bones to change the contours of the face. Augmentation can be achieved by using implants. These implants are screwed onto the underlying facial bone to increase the projection of the face where it is deficient, …
Bimaxillary protrusion in Singapore & Hong Kong – a tale of two cities
on July 8, 2016
Bimaxillary protrusion is an ethnic facial feature of most ethnic Chinese and Malays in Singapore. As with all facial features, if the protrusion develops excessively, it will pose an aesthetic challenge. Unlike an underbite, where the lower jaw has grown to be longer than the upper j …
Bimaxillary protrusion corrective jaw surgery without orthodontics
on July 7, 2016
Bimaxillary protrusion is a condition whereby the tooth-bearing parts of both the upper and lower jaws are positioned further forward than the base of the jaws. It is not strictly speaking a deformity unless it is excessively developed. In fact it is within the ethnic norm for Chinese …