Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic Surgery in Phoenix, AZ — Corrective Jaw Surgery That Changes Lives
Orthognathic surgery is corrective jaw surgery. It repositions the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both when braces alone can't correct your bite.
About the Service
How Jaw Surgery Works: Upper Jaw, Lower Jaw or Both
Orthognathic surgery is corrective jaw surgery. Tänder's surgeons plan it with your orthodontist and generally perform it in a hospital or surgical center.
When teeth don't come together properly, the cause can be the position or size of the jaws themselves, not just the teeth. Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. It can improve chewing, speech clarity and jaw pain, and in some cases sleep-disordered breathing.
Orthognathic surgery is almost always done alongside orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist aligns the teeth within each jaw before surgery. Your surgeon then repositions the jaws. Orthodontics after surgery fine-tunes the result. The combined timeline typically runs 18 to 24 months.
Both Tänder surgeons completed their OMS residency at the University of Iowa. Meet Dr. Pratt and Dr. Campbell.
Related care includes facial trauma surgery and wisdom tooth removal.
A Tänder surgeon talks with a patient before treatment.
Candidacy
Underbite, Overbite or Open Bite: Am I a Candidate for Jaw Surgery?
Whether you are a candidate depends on your health, your goals and your imaging. The list below shows common situations where patients ask about this care. A board-certified Tänder surgeon reviews your case at a free consultation and gives you an honest answer, with no obligation to move forward.
- Significant underbite — lower jaw protrudes beyond upper jaw
- Significant overbite or open bite orthodontics couldn't correct
- Facial asymmetry caused by uneven jaw growth
- Chronic jaw pain, clicking, or difficulty chewing related to skeletal imbalance
- Sleep apnea or airway obstruction partially attributable to jaw position
Why Tänder
Why Choose Tänder?
Tänder's board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons plan your jaw surgery with your orthodontist and your dentist, and perform it in a hospital or surgical center. Here are three reasons patients choose us, from the surgeons' training to how your own dental team stays involved.
Collaborative With Your Orthodontist
We coordinate directly with your orthodontist throughout the combined treatment timeline.
Board-Certified Surgical Training
Hospital-based residency training in the full scope of orthognathic procedures.
Planned With Your Dental Team
Jaw surgery is planned with your dentist and orthodontist and performed in the appropriate surgical setting.
Cost & Financing
Cost & Insurance
Insurance: Orthognathic surgery may be covered by medical insurance when it is medically indicated for functional reasons. Coverage varies by plan. Our team can assist with documentation.
Treatment timeline cost: Cost varies based on case complexity and the combined orthodontic/surgical plan — discussed at consultation.
We work with leading financing partners, including CareCredit and Sunbit, to help make treatment accessible — ask about current plans and monthly payment examples at your free consultation.
Recovery
Jaw Surgery Recovery: What to Expect
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 2–4 Weeks | Most patients return to desk work and light activity on a soft diet. |
| 3–6 Months | Full bone healing and resolution of swelling, though most patients feel normal well before that. |
| 18–24 Months | The full combined orthodontic and surgical timeline from start to finish. |
Coordinated Care
Expert Jaw Surgery — Planned With Your Dental Team
Board-certified surgeons who plan your jaw surgery with your orthodontist and your dentist. Jaw surgery is generally done in a hospital or surgical center.
Treatment Team
Surgical Orthodontics: How Your Orthodontist and Oral Surgeon Plan Treatment Together
Your orthodontist and your Tänder oral surgeon plan jaw surgery together. We coordinate directly with your orthodontist throughout the combined treatment timeline. Cost depends on case complexity and the combined plan. We discuss it at your consultation.
Dr. Forrest Pratt and Dr. Jordan Campbell are Tänder's two board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Both completed their OMS residency at the University of Iowa. Read more on the pages for Dr. Pratt and Dr. Campbell.
Read more about corrective jaw surgery, or see our facial trauma care in Phoenix.
Surgeons
Who Performs Orthognathic Surgery in Greater Phoenix
Every Orthognathic Surgery procedure in Greater Phoenix is performed by one of the board-certified oral surgeons below.
Partner Offices
Where to Have Orthognathic Surgery Done in Greater Phoenix
Each office below is a practice we have trained, equipped and coordinate with directly.
Lake Vista Dentistry
📍3048 E Baseline Rd, Suite 126, Mesa, AZ 85204
🌐lakevistadentistry.com
🦷Surgeon: Dr. Forrest Pratt
Arizona Advanced Dental
📍3048 E Baseline Rd, Suite 128, Mesa, AZ 85204
🌐smileaz.com
🦷Surgeon: Dr. Forrest Pratt
Dental Care of Mesa
📍6610 E Baseline Rd, Suite 104, Mesa, AZ 85206
🌐smilemesa.com
🦷Surgeon: Dr. Forrest Pratt
Julian Dentistry
📍10545 E Southern Ave, Suite 105, Mesa, AZ 85209
🌐juliandentistry.com
🦷Surgeon: Dr. Jordan Campbell
Valencia Dental Care
📍1635 N Greenfield Rd, Suite 119, Mesa, AZ 85205
🌐valenciadc.com
🦷Surgeon: Dr. Jordan Campbell
Signature Dental Care
📍5340 S Power Rd, Suite 104, Gilbert, AZ 85295
🌐signaturedentalaz.com
🦷Surgeon: Dr. Forrest Pratt
Stauffer Dental
Schedule Here →FAQ
Orthognathic Surgery — Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients return to light activity within two to four weeks; full healing takes three to six months. Your surgeon explains what to expect for your own case at your free consultation. Your orthodontist stays involved throughout the combined plan, and Tänder has a dedicated phone line for after-hours questions and emergencies.
Jaw surgery may be covered by medical insurance when it is medically indicated for functional reasons, but coverage varies by plan. Our team can assist with documentation. Because no two cases are alike, cost depends on case complexity and the combined orthodontic and surgical plan. We discuss it with you at your free consultation.
In Phoenix, your orthodontist and a board-certified Tänder oral surgeon plan your treatment together. We coordinate directly with your orthodontist throughout. Bring any questions about your orthodontic plan to your free consultation, and our surgeon will talk through how the orthodontic and surgical steps fit together.
In most cases, yes — pre- and post-surgical orthodontics are part of the typical 18–24 month timeline. Your orthodontist and your Tänder surgeon plan it together, and we coordinate directly with your orthodontist throughout. Ask your surgeon what applies to your case.
In some patients, jaw advancement can improve airway dimensions, evaluated with your sleep medicine provider. Whether jaw surgery is right for you depends on your own health, goals and imaging. Your surgeon reviews your case at a free consultation and gives you an honest answer, with no obligation to move forward.
Tänder serves Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, San Tan Valley, Queen Creek, and Greater Phoenix. Jaw surgery is generally done in a hospital or surgical center, not at a partner dental office. Start with a consultation at a Tänder partner office in Mesa, Gilbert or San Tan Valley, and we will plan the next step with you.
Is Jaw Surgery Right for You? Let's Find Out Together.
A free consultation with our surgeons is the right next step. There is no pressure and no obligation.