Who seeks surgical-orthodontic treatment?

Clinical examination records of more than 1000 patients evaluated in the Dentofacial Clinic at the University of North Carolina were reviewed to determine whether patients with certain characteristics were more likely to seek and to receive surgical treatment. Facial asymmetry was found in 25% of the patients. Women were twice as likely as men to seek evaluation and were more likely to receive surgical treatment once evaluated. Individuals with a long face or skeletal Class III problem appeared more likely to seek evaluation than did those with mandibular deficiency and normal or short facial height, but the decision to accept or reject a recommendation for surgery did not seem to be related to morphologic characteristics.