title: Orthodontist's Role in Orthognathic Surgery.
abstract: Orthognathic surgery can eliminate severe esthetic and functional deformities and be a life-changing event for a patient. An orthodontist's role in orthognathic surgery can be divided into several phases: the initial evaluation, presurgical orthodontics, surgical planning, and postsurgical orthodontics. At each of these phases, collaboration between the orthodontist and the surgeon is critical. The ability of an orthodontist and a surgeon to coordinate their efforts during this time is what will lead to a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. Debakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Wirthlin
authors.affiliation: Craniofacial Dental Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Pradip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shetye
keywords: collaboration; orthodontist; orthognathic surgery