Interdisciplinary Treatment Can Improve Health While Addressing Esthetics

The orthodontic treatment plan included aligning the gingival margins and decompensating the dentition orthodontically. Orthognathic surgery was completed to widen and impact the maxilla and also bring the mandible forward. The surgical treatment plan improved her ability to breathe nasally, created more space for her tongue, opened her airway, and facilitated the development of a healthy occlusal scheme with the teeth loaded on their long axes. After the orthodontic/surgical treatment was completed, the existing full coverage restorations were removed, and provisional restorations were fabricated (Protemp^™ Plus, 3M) and placed (Temp-Bond^™, Kerr Dental) to act as an esthetic and functional blueprint for the definitive restorations. The definitive all-ceramic restorations were fabricated from lithium disilicate (IPS e.max^®, Ivoclar Vivadent).

Upon completion of the treatment, the patient reported experiencing a significant improvement in breathing, sleeping, and overall quality of life. When clinicians work as an interdisciplinary team and understand how to diagnose and treat skeletal discrepancies, they can not only improve esthetics and function but also make patients healthier as well.

Rebecca Bockow, DDS, MS
Instructor
Spear Education
Scottsdale, Arizona
Private Practice
Seattle, Washington

Gregg Kinzer, DDS, MSD
Director of Curriculum and Campus Education
Spear Education
Scottsdale, Arizona
Private Practice
Seattle, Washington

Sam Bobek, DMD, MD
Fellow
American College of Surgeons
Private Practice
Seattle Washington