Maybe your teeth are chipping. Maybe chewing has never felt quite right, or you’ve avoided photos of your profile for as long as you can remember. And maybe someone has already said the word “surgery,” and you haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
That’s a lot to carry. You deserve to know why surgery came up, what your other options are, and whether now is the right time.
Dr. Bryan Williams, DDS, MSD, is the orthodontic specialist general dentist who has voted a 5280 Top Dentist in Orthodontics for 19 years. When jaw surgery will truly change your result, he’ll tell you and plan every step around it. When it won’t, you’ll hear that too.
Surgical orthodontics combines orthodontic treatment with jaw surgery to correct bites that braces alone can’t fully fix. Braces move teeth. But when the problem is the size or position of the jaws themselves, moving teeth only goes so far.
Here’s the thing. A bad bite can come from the teeth, the jaws, or both. Figuring out which one is the most important step in your whole plan, and it’s the step Dr. Williams handles himself.
Surgical orthodontics is most often considered for adults with:
Having one of these doesn’t mean you need surgery. It means your bite deserves a careful look from a specialist.
Age plays a big role. In growing children, an orthodontist can sometimes guide how the jaws develop. That’s one reason Dr. Williams cares so much about starting treatment at the right time, “not too late or not too early.”
Once jaw growth is finished, that window closes. Some adult bite problems can then only be fully corrected by moving the jaw itself. So surgical orthodontics is mostly for adults and older teens who are done growing. If you’re a parent with a younger child and a jaw concern, an early visit can tell you what’s needed now and what can wait.
Treatment happens in stages, and you’ll know what each one is for before it begins. Dr. Williams plans the orthodontic side of your care, and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs the jaw surgery. Both plans point toward the same goal: teeth and jaws that work together.
It starts with a detailed exam of your teeth, bite, jaw, and smile width, along with a digital 3D scan. Dr. Williams studies how your teeth meet and how your jaws line up with the rest of your face. Then he sits down with you and explains what he sees, what your options are, and what each one would mean for your life.
Most patients wear braces for a while before surgery. This lines up the teeth on each jaw so they’ll fit together once the jaws are moved. Your bite may look or feel a little worse before it gets better. That’s normal, and it’s part of the plan.
When your teeth are ready, your surgeon repositions the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both. Your surgeon will explain the procedure and how recovery works. The surgery is built around the bite Dr. Williams planned, so both sides of your care stay on the same page.
After you heal, braces stay on a bit longer so Dr. Williams can fine-tune how your teeth come together. Then the braces come off. Retainers help hold your new bite in place for the long run.
Jaw surgery is a big decision. The orthodontist who plans it matters just as much as the surgeon who performs it. Here’s what that looks like at Williams Orthodontics.
Every recommendation Dr. Williams makes passes one test: would he do this for his own family? He has built his practice on recommending what’s best for the patient, in his words, “even if it doesn’t benefit my business.”
So if surgery will give you a result, nothing else can; he’ll say so plainly. If a plan without surgery can meet your goals, you’ll hear that too, along with the trade-offs of each path. Either way, you walk out with a clear picture instead of a sales pitch.
Look, nobody wants to nod along through a consultation full of words they don’t understand. Dr. Williams does the exam and the explaining himself. He walks you through your bite, your jaw, and your options in plain language, and he answers every question you bring.
One patient, Gene, had been told by a few orthodontists over the years that he needed surgery on both jaws. Dr. Williams took the time to build clay models of his bite, work out the details, and explain everything to him. For Gene, that work led to a plan without surgery. Every bite is different, so his result isn’t a promise for anyone else. But the time and care that went into his plan is what you can expect too.
Orthodontics has been part of Dr. Williams’ life since he was a teenager trimming plaster models in his father’s orthodontic lab. After graduating valedictorian from Indiana University School of Dentistry, he completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Washington. That’s two to three extra years of training focused on one thing.
As he puts it, orthodontists “fully understand tooth movement and jaw movement and occlusion and bites.” That’s exactly what a surgical case calls for. He also plans beyond straight teeth: your jaw joint, how your jaws developed, the width of your smile, and how it all fits your face. The goal is a bite and smile planned specifically for you.
Surgical orthodontics can take a couple of years, so continuity matters. You’ll see Dr. Williams throughout, not a new face every few months. He has been the full-time orthodontist in Evergreen and Conifer since 2005, and many local families have trusted him with their second, third, and fourth patient. With a 5.0 rating across 204 reviews, that trust shows.
Regular visits shouldn’t eat up your whole day. See Dr. Williams in Evergreen on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, or in Conifer on Wednesdays. That makes surgical orthodontics in Conifer and Evergreen much easier to fit around work and family, whether you live in Kittredge, Bergen Park, Pine, Bailey, or Idaho Springs.
Surgical cases can involve two sets of costs and sometimes two kinds of insurance. That can feel overwhelming. You’ll know the cost of your orthodontic treatment before you start, and the team takes care of your orthodontic insurance and helps you find payments that fit your budget.
Because jaw surgery is sometimes medically necessary, medical insurance may cover part of the surgery itself. Coverage varies from plan to plan, so it’s worth asking early.
Knowing what’s coming makes it easier to start. Here’s how surgical orthodontics usually unfolds, though your own timeline depends on your bite.
Your consultation starts with a digital 3D scan of your teeth and bite and an exam with Dr. Williams. He explains what’s causing your bite problem, whether surgery would help, and what other paths exist. Nervous? Say so. Patients have shared that the team noticed their anxiety and gave them a private room without being asked.
Braces usually come first, often for around a year and sometimes longer. Appointments run on time, and Dr. Williams plans for efficient treatment from day one. You’ll always know where you are in the process and what’s next.
Your surgeon guides you through surgery day and recovery. Many people have swelling and eat soft foods for the first few weeks. Your surgeon will tell you how much time to plan off from work.
After healing, braces stay on for several more months while Dr. Williams fine-tunes your bite. From start to finish, many surgical plans take one and a half to three years. Then come retainers, and with them, the goal you started for: teeth that meet the way they should, easier chewing, and a face that looks balanced.
Dr. Williams says it best: “I love seeing the beautiful smiles at the end of treatment, and even more so, the confidence behind the smiles.”
These are the questions that come up most when adults in Evergreen and Conifer start thinking about jaw surgery.
Most surgical orthodontic patients are adults, because the jaws need to be done growing first. Age alone usually isn’t what decides it. What matters more is the health of your teeth, gums, and jaws, which Dr. Williams checks at your consultation.
Yes. Dr. Williams will examine your bite, explain what he sees, and give you his honest recommendation. Sometimes that confirms surgery is the best path, and sometimes other options are worth weighing. Either way, you’ll understand the reasons behind his advice.
Sometimes, especially when the problem is mostly in the teeth or is mild. When the jaws themselves are out of position, orthodontics alone may only mask the problem or may not hold up over time. Dr. Williams will tell you which situation your bite falls into.
It depends on your plan. Medical insurance sometimes covers part of jaw surgery when it’s medically necessary, and dental insurance may help with the orthodontic side. The team handles your orthodontic insurance and makes sure you know your cost before you start.
Many plans take one and a half to three years from start to finish. That includes braces before surgery, healing time, and fine-tuning afterward. Dr. Williams gives you a timeline built for your bite at your consultation.
It can, since moving the jaws changes how your lower face is shaped. That’s why Dr. Williams plans with your whole face in mind, not just your teeth. He’ll talk through what changes to expect so there are no surprises.
You may have carried this question for years. One visit can give you a clear answer from an orthodontic specialist who explains his reasoning and tells you what you need now, what can wait, and whether surgery belongs in your plan at all.
Book a consultation at our Evergreen office or our Conifer office. Call (303) 670-5878 to schedule, and bring every question you’ve got.
