Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Oct 2009
Safe, efficient, and cost-effective orthognathic surgery in the outpatient setting.
There has been a dramatic decline in the number of orthognathic surgery cases over the past 15 to 20 years. This decrease is a result of several compounding factors including decreasing coverage by major medical insurance companies and increasing health care costs. The difficulty associated with making orthognathic surgery financially practical has turned the interest of many oral and maxillofacial surgeons away from orthognathic procedures. ⋯ Alternative methods for providing high-quality surgical services at a reasonable cost must be explored including providing options for cost-effective outpatient surgical care, making better arrangements for financial assistance, and exploring options to obtain coverage from third-party providers. Outpatient surgery in facilities that can substantially reduce cost can be an effective way of providing quality treatment that is affordable to patients. Efficient, safe, and effective outpatient orthognathic surgery will help patients benefit from this valuable service.