Post-surgical orthodontic treatment and neuromuscular function in orthognathic surgery

The aim was to underline the importance of post-surgical orthodontic treatment in the combined surgical-orthodontic therapy of orofacial deformities. The surgical orthodontic treatment is schematically 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. 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. 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 prevetion.