Sometimes people have orthodontic problems that aren’t just caused by the positions of the teeth, but also the development, size and shape of their jawbones. When they happen to a severe extent then it’s unlikely that orthodontics alone (whether it’s braces or aligners or other forms of treatment) will fix all the problem. That sort of situation is rare, but in that case, the best result will probably require a combination of orthodontics and an operation to adjust the position of the jaws. This is almost always only done for adults or older teenagers when facial growth has slowed down
If your orthodontist thinks that this is what you require, they’ll be working in conjunction with a surgeon from a specialty called Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery (OMFS).