title: Experiencing your own orthognathic surgery: a personal case report.
abstract: There has been much research on minimizing the side effects of orthognathic surgery. However, there are very few doctors and researchers who themselves have undergone this surgery. This case report describes the findings of a maxillofacial surgeon who underwent combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment for correction of Class II malocclusion. In March 2012, the surgeon was referred to an orthodontist, and an orthodontic examination revealed a Class II, division 2, malocclusion with a traumatic palatal bite and attrition of the lower front teeth. The patient underwent alignment of the upper and lower arches, followed by a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. During this treatment, he made many interesting observations and learned much as a patient, which can have implications in improving the outcomes and quality of care for patients receiving such treatment. Thus, this case report aims to provide a critical perspective of the surgical procedure and treatment from the viewpoint of a maxillofacial surgeon who himself experienced the surgery as a patient.
authors.affiliation: a   Consultant in Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands, and Senior Researcher, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gertjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.affiliation: b   Consultant in Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands; Consultant in Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Amsterdam Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Affiliate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gooris
authors.affiliation: c   Private practice, Tandheelkundig Centrum Dudok, Breda, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Florine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.affiliation: d   Private practice, Orthodontiepraktijk Gooris, Breda, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gooris-Kuipers
authors.affiliation: e   Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Merkesteyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057909:Orthognathic Surgery
keywords: Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy; Doctor-patients; Orthognathic surgery