Corrective jaw surgery (known as "orthognathic surgery" in dental terminology) moves your jaws into positions that are more balanced, functional and healthy. Whether your needs include improving your bite and function, appearance or speech, jaw surgery can have a dramatic and positive effect on your outlook on life. We are here to work together with you to help you achieve a beautiful, functional, pain-free smile that will last for the rest of your life.
Who needs jaw surgery?
In some cases, your upper and lower jaws may have grown at different rates. Injuries and birth defects may also affect jaw alignment. Orthodontics is designed to correct problems with the alignment of the teeth. If your upper and lower jaw are not aligned, then surgery might be needed. If you suffer from any of the following conditions, you may be an excellent candidate for corrective jaw surgery:
- Difficulty chewing, biting food or swallowing
- Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache
- Excessive wear of the teeth
- Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
- Unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
- Facial injury or birth defects
- Receding chin
- Protruding jaw
- Inability to make the lips meet without straining
- Chronic mouth breathing and dry mouth
- Sleep apnea (breathing problems when sleeping, including snoring)
The Surgical Treatment Plan
Receiving treatment to correct any of the above conditions is a commitment not only to your health, but to your happiness as well. If we determine jaw surgery is needed for the best result we will refer you to meet with an oral surgeon to discuss the surgical diagnosis in detail. This type of treatment takes a team approach. Our doctors collaborate with the oral surgeon and your general dentist to discuss the problems and come to an agreement on the treatment plan.
The surgical plan is a combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment that generally takes 18-24 months to complete. You will likely need a pre-surgical orthodontic phase to set-up your teeth properly in anticipation for the surgical movements. This can take 12-18 months. After surgery, a patient can expect 6-8 months of post-surgical orthodontic treatment to settle the bite and make final corrections. While the treatment might seem long and aggressive, the amazing results will last a lifetime.
We do many surgical cases every year and every case has incredible, life-changing results. Every patient has said that having jaw surgery was the best decision they have ever made for themselves. There is no reason to live with painful, uncomfortable jaw conditions. Contact our office to learn about the best treatment option for you.
