The search for clinical excellence in Orthognathic surgery

Dr. Monika Palmer  

Keynote Lecture - Friday, September 23, 2011

The aim of this presentation is to give an overview of “what’s new” in orthognathic surgery, to help the orthodontist avoid disappointments and achieve clinical excellence with long term stability in orthognathic surgery patients.

I will fi rst defi ne what I think clinical excellence in orthognathic surgery should be in the 21st Century and discuss some of the goals and concepts we need in order to try and achieve it. I will present some guide lines, some do’s and Don’ts, in orthognathic surgery from Diagnosis to Retention and After care.

Orthognathic surgery is elective surgery and therefore requires a predictable quality result so I will discuss the risks & limitations, how and why errors happen and how to try and avoid them. I will also address what I like to call “the myth of fi nishing“ since no amount of , and or excellence in, fi nishing can stabilise an intrinsically unstable case or overcome basic errors in diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment mechanics.