Jaw Surgery
When your jaw is out of alignment, everyday tasks, such as chewing, swallowing, and speaking, are more difficult and sometimes even painful.
Corrective jaw surgery can have a dramatic & positive effect on many aspects of your life by creating a more harmonious bite and appearance.
Orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, is a procedure performed for patients whose jaws do not meet correctly, which creates an improper bite and misalignment of the jaw. For some individuals, the problem can be corrected without jaw surgery and can be modified through the use of orthodontics. But if the problem is severe, the orthodontist will need to work with an oral surgeon to correct the bite through orthognathic surgery.
While the goal of orthognathic surgery is to correct the functional problem with the jaw, this procedure also results in improved facial structure and facial proportions. Patients who opt to undergo corrective jaw surgery can expect to see numerous benefits, including:
- Improved respiratory function and ability to chew or speak
- Decreased likelihood of short- and long-term relapse of previous oral problems
- Enhanced facial appearance, balance, and overall harmony
- Minimal treatment time
The doctors and surgical staff at Permian Basin Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center have received specialty training in restoring function and aesthetics to the jaws and thoroughly enjoy seeing the positive transformations that result from orthognathic treatment.
You may need corrective jaw surgery because misaligned jaws can cause many problems for the mouth and the facial structure, including:
- Inability to properly chew food
- Digestive problems
- Dental crowding
- Poor oral hygiene
- Increased risk of dental caries and periodontal disease
- Shorter tooth lifespan
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Heavy breathing
- Inability to fully close the lips
- Impaired speech function
- Poor facial aesthetics
Many of these problems may have severe consequences on your mouth, face, and overall health. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that abnormalities of the jaw are diagnosed and treated early in order to reduce the risks of this condition.
Treatment timeline.
- First Steps
In general, patients need braces to align their teeth before surgery. Typically, alignment takes 12 to 18 months.
- Undergoing Surgery
Jaw surgery is performed by a surgeon under general anesthesia in a hospital. The jawbone is incised and may be augmented, reshaped, or adjusted. Alterations are held in place with permanent hardware. Corrective jaw surgery can address your upper jaw, lower jaw, chin, or a combination.
- After the Procedure
You may need to stay in the hospital for two to four nights after surgery.
- Recovery
Most patients can return to work or school
within one to three weeks, but full healing can take up to three months.
- Final Adjustments
After about six weeks, your orthodontist may
recommend a second round of braces, which can take several more months to complete.
Am I a candidate for corrective jaw surgery?
Many patients who are candidates for orthognathic surgery are already aware of the issue, but they just do not know that there is a treatment to correct their problem. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be a candidate for corrective jaw surgery:
- Breathing problems, speech problems, or sleep apnea
- Significantly protruding upper or lower jaw
- Difficulty biting, chewing, or swallowing food
- Receding chin
- Difficulty closing your lips comfortably
We encourage you to contact our office for an initial consultation if you would like to learn more about corrective jaw surgery. The doctors at Permian Basin Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center have received an extensive education and undergone hospital-based surgical training, which make them uniquely qualified to examine and treat abnormalities of the facial skeleton. If we determine that you are a candidate, our doctors will work closely with your orthodontist to plan and complete your procedure.
When you choose to undergo orthognathic surgery, your orthodontist will prepare your jaw with braces before the procedure. Next, the oral surgeon will separate your jaw, move the bones to their new permanent position, and secure them in place. After surgery (but before removing your braces), your orthodontist will make any small, fine corrections needed to finish the bite.
If you think you may be in need of corrective jaw surgery, we invite you to schedule a consultation at one of our office locations in Odessa or Midland, Texas. Our well-trained office staff and highly skilled surgical team are happy to help in any way possible to restore your oral function through orthognathic surgery.
Get to know us.
At Permian Basin Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, we strive for excellence in serving you. Our board-certified surgeons and expert staff will provide the care you need and deserve.
