Surgery-first orthognathic approach case series: Salient features and guidelines

Conventional orthognathic surgery treatment involves a prolonged period of orthodontic treatment (pre- and post-surgery), making the total treatment period of 3-4 years too exhaustive. Surgery-first orthognathic approach (SFOA) sees orthognathic surgery being carried out first, followed by orthodontic treatment to align the teeth and occlusion. Following orthognathic surgery, a period of rapid metabolic activity within tissues ensues is known as the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP). By performing surgery first, RAP can be harnessed to facilitate efficient orthodontic treatment. This phenomenon is believed to be a key factor in the notable reduction in treatment duration using SFOA. This article presents two cases treated with SFOA with emphasis on "case selection, treatment strategy, merits, and limitations" of SFOA. Further, salient features comparison of "conventional orthognathic surgery" and "SFOA" with an overview of author's SFOA treatment protocol is enumerated.