Dr. Katie To explains that braces only work if there's enough bone to move teeth into. Two surgeries, Marpy and SFOT, expand the jaw and create space for stable alignment in adults. Ask for a periodontist consultation before starting treatment, especially if your case seems complicated.
Orthodontics can only move teeth through bone that exists. If your bone structure is not ready, your results will never be stable. Most people going into treatment have no idea this conversation is even possible. There are surgical procedures a periodontist performs that work alongside orthodontic treatments to expand the jaw, create space, and give teeth a stable foundation to move into. Marpy and SFOT are two of them, and they are changing what is possible for adults who are told they were too old for real correction. Think about trying to rearrange furniture in a room that is too small. You can move things around, but nothing ever really fits. Jaw expansion surgery makes the room bigger first. Suddenly everything has a place. Your airway opens, your bite settles, and your results actually hold because there's enough bone to hold them. If you are an adult considering braces or aligners and you have been told your case is complicated, ask whether a periodontist consultation is part of your treatment plan. The answer might change everything about your outcome.
