Jaw Surgeon Dr. David Bell

Orthognathic Surgeon

Jaw Surgeon Dr. David Bell, D.D.S., M.D., of Orthognathic Surgery MD in Irvine, California, is an orthognathic surgeon whose patients come from across the United States and international regions, including Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. Around 80% of his patients travel from within the United States, while the rest come from abroad. Orthognathic surgery involves repositioning one or both jaws into proper functional alignment. He performs surgeries at South Coast Specialty Surgery Center in Costa Mesa, which is located two miles from John Wayne Airport. His work is centered on improving jaw alignment and supporting better function for his patients.

Dr. Bell’s practice focuses on orthognathic jaw surgery with attention to both functional improvement and structural balance. His approach includes improving facial alignment, supporting breathing by treating conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, enhancing chewing efficiency, and maintaining long-term stability. Through careful planning and execution, he works to provide outcomes that support both health and daily life.

Academic Background

Dr. David Bell, a Jaw Surgeon, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honors) in Music from York University in Toronto. He then completed a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Human Biology at the University of Toronto. He later received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) from Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York City. During this time, he was awarded a 2-year research scholarship under the mentorship of Dr. Steven Roser, the acting chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. David Bell completed a Resident Internship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He later returned to Louisiana State University School of Medicine to earn his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). His postgraduate training continued through the University of California, San Francisco Graduate Medical Education Program in Fresno. There, he completed an internship in General Surgery and then a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He further advanced his training in Texas through a fellowship under Douglas Sinn, D.D.S.

The Medical Board of California licenses Dr. Bell. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. In addition, he is a member of the American Medical Association.

Professional Career Highlights

Dr. David Bell, a jaw surgery specialist, began his professional career in the 1990s in Louisiana. During this time, he practiced general and pediatric dentistry as an associate with Hollis Bray, D.D.S. He later worked with Edward H. Hobbs, D.D.S., in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Longview, Texas. He continued practicing dentistry both before and during medical school.

After completing his residency training through the UCSF program in central California, he practiced briefly in Northern California. During this period, he operated at Mercy Medical Center and Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, California. Shortly thereafter, he served as a clinical instructor in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. There, he operated at John Peter Smith Hospital and Cook’s Children’s Hospital. During this time, he worked alongside and was mentored by Drs. John Stella, Michael Zide, and Michael Warner.

Before being recruited to join Southern California Permanente Medical Group (Kaiser Permanente) in Anaheim, California, David Bell completed fellowship training in the private practice of Dr. Douglas Sinn. This mentorship contributed to his development in orthognathic surgery.

While working at Kaiser Permanente in Anaheim, He focused almost entirely on orthognathic surgery. During this period, he performed nearly 2000 procedures. His operating room colleagues recognized his work by awarding him the Golden Scalpel Award twice consecutively.

In 2023, Dr. Bell started his private practice, Orthognathic Surgery MD, where he focuses exclusively on orthognathic surgery.

Dr. Bell’s Patient-Centric Approach

Jaw Surgeon Dr. David Bell approaches patient care with a focus on trust and communication. He considers trust an essential part of the doctor-patient relationship. He takes time to understand each patient’s goals, concerns, and expectations. His approach includes careful listening and open discussion throughout the process.

He values collaboration and ongoing dialogue rather than a one-sided approach. He remains attentive to changes in each patient’s condition or life circumstances. Each treatment plan is developed to meet individual needs. After detailed planning and preparation, his focus in the operating room is on precision and safety.

Advanced Technologies, Technique and Artistry, and Long-Term Follow-up

As a jaw surgeon, Dr. David Bell uses advanced technologies to support orthognathic surgery planning. These include medical-grade 320-slice spiral CT scans, 3DMD high-resolution 3D photography of each patient’s face, and digital STL scans of each patient’s teeth. These technologies are combined to create a detailed surgical plan tailored to each individual.

To help patients understand expected outcomes, He works with biomedical engineers using Materialize ProPlan CMF, a virtual planning software. This allows each surgery to be planned in three dimensions. Scientific studies have validated the accuracy of this approach. It offers a more reliable method compared to combining two-dimensional images with CT scans.

Once the surgical plan is approved, Dr. Bell works with engineers to design custom 3D-printed titanium hardware. He carefully reviews each design and may make adjustments before approving the final version. This process helps maintain precision and consistency.

During surgery, he uses advanced visualization tools, including Zeiss and Swarotec Swarovski magnification loupes. He also uses Mectron Medical piezoelectric instrumentation, along with biomaterials, bone-grafting techniques, and stem cell technology when needed. These tools support controlled and accurate procedures.

After surgery, He closely follows his patients and provides continued care. He monitors recovery and addresses any concerns. Postoperative CT scans are digitally superimposed over preoperative scans to compare the actual outcome with the predicted result. These evaluations help improve his surgical protocols over time.

He is the only surgeon in the world who routinely performs complex five- and six-piece mandibular osteotomies and is one of four orthognathic surgeons worldwide who routinely use 3DMD technology. Jaw Surgeon Dr. David Bell continues his work with a focus on orthognathic surgery, careful planning, and patient-centered care.