Current trends in orthognathic surgery

Conventional approach

The conventional approach is referred to as the orthodontic-first approach. Preoperative orthodontic treatment is performed prior to orthognathic surgery to reveal the true skeletal discrepancy preoperatively and to reposition the maxilla and mandible, with the goal of achieving solid surgical occlusion to overcome postoperative occlusal instability [9]. Despite these advantages, preoperative orthodontic treatment has several critical disadvantages that cause substantial inconvenience for patients. During the preoperative period, dental decompensation causes a progressive deterioration of the facial aesthetic profile and dental function (Fig. 1). The most critical drawback of preoperative orthodontic treatment is its time-consuming nature, as it takes on average 12 to 24 months, and can even extend up to 48 months depending on the complexity of the patient’s initial dental status [10,11].

Fig. 1.

A case of two-jaw orthognathic surgery with conventional approach. (A) Before preoperative orthodontic treatment. (B, C) During the treatment, dental decompensation caused a progressive deterioration of the facial profile (blue arrows) and dental function (yellow arrow).

Surgery-first approach

The definition of the surgery-first approach is orthognathic surgery followed by postoperative orthodontic treatment without preoperative orthodontic treatment [12,13]. If the period of preoperative orthodontic treatment is minimized to less than 6 months, it is defined as the modified-surgery approach [14,15]. Although there are disagreements about the chronology, the first report of the surgery-first approach in Asia is thought to have been published in the Korean Journal of Clinical Orthodontics in 2002 [13,16]. The fundamental concept of the current surgery-first approach is well described in this publication.

The advantages of the surgery-first approach described in previous papers are shortening the total treatment time, a favorable direction of postoperative orthodontics (identical to the direction of natural compensation), early improvement of facial aesthetics, and early correction of OSA [9,17-19]. The surgery-first approach is usually indicated for patients who do not need much preoperative treatment, including those with (1) well-aligned to mildly crowded anterior teeth, (2) a flat to mild curve of Spee, (3) normal to mildly proclined or retroclined incisors, and (4) a minimal transverse discrepancy [13,17]. In recent years, the range of indications has been further expanded; according to Choi and Lee [13], if stable surgical occlusion is achieved through a simulation of postoperative orthodontic movement, the surgery-first approach could theoretically be applied to all patients who need orthognathic surgery. The orthodontist’s experience and expertise are important, as well as the plastic surgeon’s experience, for application of the surgery-first approach [20].

Yang et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence for the stability, efficacy, and outcomes of the surgery-first approach and the conventional approach. They concluded that the surgery-first approach group showed similar postoperative stability, reliability, and complication rates, with a shorter total treatment time [21-23].

Orthognathic surgery without orthodontic treatment

According to recent reports, most patients who are willing to undergo orthognathic surgery visit clinics for cosmetic purposes rather than for functional reasons, such as occlusal problems or temporomandibular dysfunction [24,25]. Asians have a relatively flat facial profile, which is closely related to a low occlusal plane angle [26]. A high occlusal plane facial profile is preferred due to its aesthetically pleasing appearance. In order to improve the facial profile in patients with functionally normal occlusion but a low occlusal plane angle, orthognathic surgery could be performed with clockwise rotation of the maxillomandibular complex while maintaining the existing normal occlusion status. It is important for patients with normal occlusion who undergo orthognathic surgery to maintain their preoperative occlusal status after surgery in order to avoid orthodontic treatment. Lee and Park [24] reported that orthognathic surgery without orthodontic treatment was performed in 43 patients with normal occlusion but a low occlusal plane angle, and cosmetically satisfactory results with long-term stability were obtained (Figs. 2, 3).

Fig. 2.

Computer simulation of orthognathic surgery. (A) Asians have a relatively flat facial profile, which is closely related to a low occlusal plane angle. (B) After simulation, a high occlusal plane is achieved.

Fig. 3.

The change of the occlusal plane angle has a great influence on the facial profile. (A) Preoperative and (B) postoperative photographs of a man with two-jaw orthognathic surgery without any orthodontic treatment.

Virtual surgical planning

Model surgery was previously performed with a radiocephalometric analysis of the facial profile and malocclusion before surgery, and the intermediate and final splints were created according to the change in the maxillomandibular position. Recent advances in technology, including computer-assisted design with high-quality cone-beam computed tomography, have enabled precise surgical planning using a 3D virtual environment, which has created a paradigm shift in orthognathic surgery [27-30]. Virtual surgical planning has facilitated accurate diagnoses and detailed treatment planning through better visualization of 3D phenotypic changes. These advantages have improved the accuracy of osteotomy, enabled the fabrication of intermediate and final splints, and significantly shortened preoperative surgical planning with intraoperative osteotomies and fixation [31,32]. Wilson et al. [28] reported that there was a high degree of conformity when comparing the virtual surgical planning to the actual postoperative outcomes, except for some incongruent results of maxillary vertical and mandibular sagittal movement. Furthermore, 3D virtual planning also has advantages for soft tissue simulation with facial contouring, and Hsu et al. [33] reported that 3D planning presents superior facial contour symmetry outcomes than two-dimensional (2D) planning in unilateral cleft patients.

The use of a fabricated osteotomy cutting guide and prebended fixation plates based on virtual surgical planning increases the feasibility of planned osteotomies and repositioning of the maxillomandibular segment, thereby saving time [34].

Virtual surgical occlusion set-up

The surgical occlusion set-up is a vital step in planning for orthognathic surgery and is especially critical for adopting the surgery-first approach. Model surgery-based 2D lateral cephalometric analysis and usage of a dental model, known as the conventional method, was widely used. However, several disadvantages of the conventional method have been reported, including (1) patient discomfort during the dental impression procedure, (2) the time-consuming nature of model surgery, (3) the inconvenience of storing dental casts, and (4) the risk of accidentally breaking dental casts [14,35,36].

Ho et al. [14] reported fully digital 3D planning using intraoral scanning and a 7-step digital occlusion set-up process for patients with class III malocclusion. The average root mean square difference of the final occlusion between the conventional occlusion set-up group, in which dental casts were used, and the virtual occlusion set-up group was below 0.5 mm, indicating that the results were accurate and reliable. Furthermore, the virtual occlusion set-up required only 40 minutes, whereas the conventional occlusion set-up required approximately 140 minutes [14,37]. Seo et al. [15,38] reported a standardized protocol of virtual occlusion set-up with the fabrication of a surgical splint for unilateral cleft patients, with results that were comparable to those of the conventional occlusion set-up method (Fig. 4). It is important that the plastic surgeon and orthodontist collaborate in all surgical planning, including the surgical occlusion set-up, to enhance the completeness of overall surgical planning and increase the feasibility of surgery.

Fig. 4.

Computer-generated three-dimensional surgical occlusion splint using surgery-first approach. Reprinted from Seo et al. J Clin Med 2019;8:2116 [15].

Single-splint technique versus double-splint technique

Orthognathic surgery could be performed with either the single-splint or the double-splint technique. The single-splint technique is characterized by the use of only a single final splint with free-hand positioning of the maxillomandibular complex. The double-splint technique, in contrast, is characterized by the use of an intermediate splint first to position the maxilla/mandibular segment, followed by application of the final splint to position the other segment [39-41]. However, it is unclear which technique yields superior surgical outcomes.

In the single-splint technique, after LeFort I osteotomy and BSSO, the maxillary and mandibular segments are placed into temporary intermaxillary fixation with a final occlusal splint. The maxillomandibular complex is repositioned according to data based on the preoperative 3D analysis and fixed to the stable upper maxillary base. The position of the maxillomandibular complex could be adjusted to a small degree based on the following check-points: (1) midline coordination, (2) upper incisor show, (3) the intercommissural line, (4) facial contour symmetry in the frontal view, (5) cheek symmetry in the frontal view, (6) paranasal fullness, (7) the Ricketts E-line, and (8) lower face proportions [41]. Mild under- or over-correction of bony movement is possible using the single-splint technique, which is advantageous for achieving soft tissue symmetry [40,42]. In previous cases with 2D surgical planning, this advantage was very attractive. However, a steep learning curve is required and the results strongly depend on the surgeon’s experience; furthermore, significant error was observed in the pitch rotation of the maxillomandibular complex compared to 3D planning [43,44].

The double-splint technique is a classic method that has been widely used since the period when 2D cephalometry was used with model surgery. A major advantage of the double-splint technique is a relatively short operation time with less dependence on the surgeon’s ability. With recent advances in 3D virtual analysis and manufacturing systems, the double-splint technique has made it possible to translate the precise 3Dplanned skeletal movement to surgery using a 3D-printed intermediate splint [27,45]. A comparative study between the single-splint group and double-splint techniques was performed in 2018, and there were no significant differences in overall soft tissue symmetry in the frontal view and the Orthognathic Quality of Life questionnaire [39].

Mandible-first versus maxilla-first approach

The decision regarding the operation sequence of two-jaw orthognathic surgery using the double-splint technique (i.e., either maxilla-first or mandible-first surgery) remains controversial and depends on the surgeon’s comfort level with the surgical technique and sequence.

Classically, maxilla-first surgery begins from mandibular bilateral sagittal split corticotomies, followed by complete LeFort I osteotomy with repositioning of the maxillary segment using an intermediate splint, and finally complete BSSO and repositioning of the distal segment of the mandible using a final splint. Complete BSSO does not require a wide mouth opening, which could cause an alteration of the fixed maxillary position. Salmen et al. [46] and Liebregts et al. [47] reported that in the context of planned maxillary impaction and with most surgical movements, the maxilla-first sequence was more accurate.

Mandible-first surgery starts with complete BSSO initially, followed by repositioning and fixation of the distal segment of the mandible using an intermediate splint. Next, LeFort I osteotomy and repositioning of the maxilla are performed using the final splint. There are several indications that are suitable for mandible-first, surgery including cases with (1) counterclockwise rotation of the occlusal plane, (2) segmental maxillary osteotomies, (3) cleft maxilla, (4) downgrafting of the posterior maxilla, (5) large maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), (6) anterior open bite, and (7) inability to accurately register the bite [48].

A comparative study of the accuracy of maxilla-first versus mandible-first surgery was performed in 2021. Despite both sequences being performed under similar conditions (operation and follow-up by the same team of surgeons and orthodontists) it was concluded that the mandible-first surgery group presented more accuracy in the vertical dimension and that splint thickness had no effect on surgical accuracy with proper selection of the intermediate splint [49].

Treatment of OSA

In the treatment of OSA, orthognathic surgery with MMA is emerging as the most effective surgical procedure [50,51]. In particular, advancement of the mandibular segment pulls the tongue base in the forward direction, which is helpful for widening of the velopharyngeal airway. Advancement of the maxilla tightens the soft palate and contributes to opening the velopharynx [52,53].

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is generally considered as the first-line treatment for OSA due to its high therapeutic efficacy and convenience of pneumatically splitting open the airway; however, its low compliance rate due to patient intolerance is a drawback of nCPAP treatment [54-56]. The therapeutic efficacy of MMA has been shown to be almost equal to that of nCPAP; therefore, MMA is becoming popular due to its high success rate [57]. Prinsell [58] reported that the mean percent reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 92.1% for primary MMA with an extrapharyngeal procedure, 88.4% for primary MMA, 53.0% for non-MMA multilevel surgery, and 31.3% for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (Table 1).

Table 1.

Percent reduction in AHI for different treatment methods

The advancement of the maxillomandibular complex via a counterclockwise rotation wound achieves both airway enlargement and an aesthetically pleasing straight facial profile with limited advancement of the A-point. Advancing the mandible by at least 10 mm is highly recommended to maximize airway enlargement [51]. The relapse rate of MMA has been reported to vary from 10% to 20%; however, the AHI remains consistent despite skeletal and soft tissue relapse. MMA is considered to provide the most consistent and effective reduction in the AHI for OSA patients [2,59].

Adjunct procedures for facial asymmetry correction

The face is made up of both bones and soft tissue, and it is difficult to perfectly correct the overall balance by changing the skeletal frame through orthognathic surgery if the soft tissue is asymmetric. Furthermore, changes in the soft tissue do not exactly match changes in the skeletal frame. Botulinum toxin injection is used to correct facial asymmetry [60]. But, it has only a temporary effect. An autologous fat graft is a useful procedure for correcting soft tissue deficiencies with long-lasting results [61]. For patients with facial asymmetry, the difference in the jawline and lateral cheek area often remains even after orthognathic surgery. Wang et al. [62] reported that orthognathic surgery with a simultaneous autologous fat graft could be a good option for further improving facial asymmetry and achieving more aesthetically pleasing results. Adipose-derived stem cells within the fat graft have the additional effects of improving skin texture, reducing postoperative edema, and softening the preexisting scar [63,64]. Genioplasty and malar reduction surgery could also be helpful for additional correction of bony symmetry [65].

Future digital technology with orthognathic surgery

With rapid technological developments, image-navigation technology, augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotic-assisted orthognathic surgery have been applied in the field of orthognathic surgery. Robot-assisted orthognathic surgery is a combination of robotic technology and a navigation system. Wu et al. [66] reported that robot-performed complete osteotomy following preoperative virtual surgical planning, with the plan transferred into actual surgery, showed good accuracy and feasibility. AR, which enables virtualization of the patient data directly at the operative site, could provide more accurate knowledge of the patient’s internal anatomy and pathology [67]. AI can be applied to imagery, planning, customized orthodontics, appliances, and follow-up [68]. In future studies, technology-assisted orthognathic surgical methods will be applied to actual patients, and further research and analyses will continue.