I recently attended a joint conference put on by the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to learn what is new in the field. It was a great conference with a number of excellent speakers. Here are the Cliff's notes -

1. Treatment planning difficult cases is critical and can be assisted by new technology. 3D surgical treatment planning is becoming more common, saving the oral surgeon time and adding to the precision of the surgery.

2. Extremely rapid tooth movement is possible but requires addition dental surgery and orthodontic precision. For those patients who want braces completed as fast as possible (think 6-10 months), there are options.

3. Airway risk issues like sleep apnea are being recognized more often by orthodontists and oral surgeons.

I've been very fortunate to work with many excellent oral surgeons over the years. If you have a complex orthodontic case that you think might require surgical correction, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and help you navigate the process. While most orthodontic cases are limited to orthodontics, patients who have challenging cases can obtain a great result as well, with the help of an orthodontist and oral surgeon working together.