Neuromuscular and functional rehabilitation in the surgical-orthodontic patient

AIM: The aim was to underline the importance of post-surgical orthodontic treatment in the combined surgical-orthodontic therapy of orofacial deformities. MATERIAL and METHODS: The surgical orthodontic treatment is organized into four phases: pre-surgical orthodontic therapy, orthognathic surgery, post-surgical orthodontic therapy, retention. The goals of the postoperative therapy are: surgical fixation, restoration and rehabilitation of neuromuscular function, occlusal stabilization, selective grinding and final retention. RESULTS and DISCUSSION: The post-surgical phase, has to achieve the restoration of a good neuromuscular function through a progressive reprogramming of the muscular and dental periodontal proprioception adequate to the new spatial situation of the maxillary and mandibular skeletal bases. CONCLUSIONS: The orthodontic and prosthodontic finishing will permit a correct occlusion which will be stabilized by a good spatial jaw relationship, a correct neuromuscular function and parafunction prevention. After surgical correction the adaptive changes in the orofacial complex, contribute to cause the relapse. The occlusion should be as stable and optimal as possible to eliminate reasons for relapse.