History of Orthognathic Surgery and Its Interdisciplinarity with Orthodontics

Orthognathic surgery, a key subfield within cranio-maxillofacial surgery, plays a crucial role in the treatment of skeletal deformities of the jaws and face, offering significant improvements in both function and facial aesthetics, as well as enhancing patients’ overall quality of life. The historical foundations of orthognathic surgery trace back to René Le Fort’s classification of midface fracture patterns in the early twentieth century, which laid the groundwork for modern osteotomy techniques. Subsequent contributions from surgeons such as Hugo Obwegeser, who introduced the bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, marked transformative milestones in elective jaw surgery. Over the past century, orthognathic surgery has advanced considerably, fueled by enhanced surgical techniques and increased interdisciplinary collaboration. A major milestone in this progress was the integration of orthodontics, which marked a pivotal shift in the approach to treating patients. It has highlighted the critical role of precise occlusion in the achievement of optimal surgical outcomes. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the history of orthognathic surgery and to explore its interdisciplinarity with orthodontics.