Mandible Osteotomy vs Activator Appliance

[Dlaport]

I had a conversation with my orthodontist, which I do not recollect with certainty. He said that for an overjet with a receding lower jaw, the end result (although the treatment is invasive) is more beautiful with lower jaw osteotomy than with an activator appliance. With lower jaw surgery leading to a larger skeletal change than treatment with an activator appliance. So if you would put treatments for a receding lower jaw and overjet in preferential order for the outcome as an adult in beauty and functionality. Jaw osteotomy would top the list. Is this true?

[Post bimax]

Jaw surgery can yield a more impressive result but also carries more risks.  Make sure you proceed with a highly qualified surgeon whose results you like if you choose this route.  I'd also recommend posting pictures/xrays and your surgical plan on this forum for feedback before going through with it.

[Dlaport]

It is more in retrospect. Because I missed the treatment with an activator appliance and had surgery. So I would like to know which of the two would have led to the best end result in beauty and functionality.

[Post bimax]

It is more in retrospect. Because I missed the treatment with an activator appliance and had surgery. So I would like to know which of the two would have led to the best end result in beauty and functionality.

It's impossible to say for certain, especially with the extremely limited information you have provided here.  As a general rule, jaw surgery has the potential to achieve more dramatic and hopefully more aesthetic results than mere orthodontics.  It also carries more functional and aesthetic risks.  If you came out of jaw surgery with no functional problems and no aesthetic abnormalities, it was probably the right choice for you.

[Dlaport]

Thank you for the response!

[Dogmatix]

It depends a lot what case you had. Jaw surgery is pretty invasive and not fun, on the other hand you have more degrees of freedome. If the jaws are seen as static, you'll have to work with their position and maybe compensate or even extract teeth. Many people are not happy with extraction cases. On the other hand jaw surgery may give other complacations, stability etc. If jaw surgery was always perfect, with no problems, it is of course nice to have this degree of freedome in the toolbox as well.

[Dlaport]

I don't really know what you mean with: It depends a lot what case you had. I think what type of surgery. I underwent a bilateral sagittal split and no surgery on the maxilla.