Orthognathic Surgery Course

Lesson 1 • Soft Tissue Envelope Dynamics

Describes how skin, muscle, and mucosa respond to skeletal movement. Establishes the basis for predicting aesthetic outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Occlusion and Dental Relationships

Defines Angle classifications, occlusal planes, and functional occlusion concepts. Links dental relationships to skeletal discrepancy diagnosis.

Lesson 3 • Airway Anatomy and Physiology

Reviews upper airway dimensions and their relationship to jaw position. Prepares students to assess airway implications of surgical plans.

Lesson 4 • Facial Growth and Development

Explains craniofacial growth patterns from infancy through skeletal maturity. Connects growth timing to surgical eligibility criteria.

Lesson 1 • Interdisciplinary Problem List

Synthesises clinical, radiographic, and model data into a prioritised problem list. Prepares students to communicate findings to orthodontic and medical colleagues.

Lesson 2 • Clinical Facial Analysis

Teaches structured extraoral and intraoral examination techniques. Forms the observational foundation for all subsequent diagnostic steps.

Lesson 3 • Three-Dimensional Imaging

Covers CBCT acquisition, segmentation, and volumetric measurement for surgical planning. Advances diagnostic precision beyond two-dimensional radiography.

Lesson 4 • Dental Model Analysis

Explains arch width, curve of Spee leveling, and model surgery principles. Connects dental model findings to surgical wafer fabrication.

Lesson 1 • Virtual Surgical Planning

Covers 3D virtual osteotomy simulation, occlusal optimisation, and wafer design. Bridges digital planning to physical surgical execution.

Lesson 2 • Cephalometric Prediction Tracing

Teaches manual and digital prediction tracing for planned skeletal movements. Validates surgical vectors before virtual or physical model surgery.

Lesson 3 • Presurgical Orthodontic Planning

Explains dental decompensation, arch coordination, and leveling before surgery. Defines the orthodontist's role in preparing the surgical substrate.

Lesson 4 • Single- versus Double-Jaw Planning

Compares indications and movement calculations for single- and bimaxillary procedures. Develops clinical judgement for selecting surgical scope.

Lesson 1 • Arch Coordination and Leveling

Covers coordination of upper and lower arch forms and elimination of curve of Spee. Ensures stable interdigitation after surgical repositioning.

Lesson 2 • Patient Education and Consent

Prepares students to communicate surgical risks, benefits, and recovery expectations clearly. Ensures informed consent is ethically and legally sound.

Lesson 3 • Surgical Readiness Assessment

Defines clinical and radiographic criteria confirming the patient is ready for surgery. Prevents premature surgical intervention and associated complications.

Lesson 4 • Fabrication of Surgical Wafers

Explains intermediate and final occlusal wafer construction from model surgery or virtual planning. Wafers are the primary intraoperative positioning guides.

Lesson 1 • Anaesthetic Considerations for Jaw Surgery

Explains nasotracheal intubation, hypotensive anaesthesia, and airway management specifics. Jaw surgery presents unique anaesthetic challenges requiring coordinated planning.

Lesson 2 • Preoperative Medical Optimisation

Covers medical history review, laboratory workup, and specialist clearance protocols. Reduces anaesthetic and surgical risk before the operative day.

Lesson 3 • Postoperative Care Protocols

Covers airway monitoring, pain management, swelling control, and diet progression. Structured postoperative care reduces morbidity and accelerates recovery.

Lesson 4 • Intraoperative Monitoring and Safety

Details standard and advanced monitoring parameters during orthognathic procedures. Continuous monitoring enables early detection of intraoperative adverse events.

Lesson 1 • Maxillary Wound Closure and Haemostasis

Details layered closure, nasal floor reconstruction, and intraoperative haemostatic measures. Reduces postoperative complications and promotes healing.

Lesson 2 • Le Fort I Variants and Segmental Surgery

Covers multi-piece Le Fort I, anterior segmental, and posterior impaction techniques. Expands surgical options for complex maxillary deformities.

Lesson 3 • Maxillary Mobilization and Repositioning

Teaches complete mobilisation, removal of bony interferences, and wafer-guided repositioning. Ensures accurate three-dimensional maxillary placement.

Lesson 4 • Le Fort I Osteotomy Fundamentals

Covers incision design, mucoperiosteal flap elevation, and horizontal osteotomy cuts. Establishes the core technique for all maxillary procedures.

Lesson 1 • Rigid Fixation of the Mandible

Instructs bicortical screw, plate, and hybrid fixation techniques for the BSSO. Stable fixation enables early function and reduces relapse risk.

Lesson 2 • Genioplasty Techniques

Teaches horizontal osteotomy design, chin repositioning, and fixation for genioplasty. Genioplasty refines lower facial balance as a standalone or adjunct procedure.

Lesson 3 • Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy

Teaches incision, medial and lateral cortical cuts, and controlled split technique. BSSO is the most common mandibular orthognathic procedure.

Lesson 4 • Condylar Positioning and Seating

Covers manual and device-assisted condylar seating techniques during fixation. Accurate condylar position prevents TMJ dysfunction and relapse.

Lesson 1 • Intraoperative Complications

Covers haemorrhage, bad splits, tooth damage, and condylar fractures during surgery. Early recognition and management prevent escalation to serious adverse outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Skeletal Relapse and Stability

Explains biological and mechanical factors driving skeletal relapse after surgery. Guides movement selection and fixation choices to optimise long-term stability.

Lesson 3 • Outcome Assessment and Quality Metrics

Teaches skeletal, dental, aesthetic, and patient-reported outcome measurement tools. Systematic outcome tracking drives continuous quality improvement in practice.

Lesson 4 • TMJ Outcomes and Condylar Resorption

Covers condylar resorption risk factors, diagnosis, and management after orthognathic surgery. TMJ health is a critical determinant of long-term surgical success.