What is Orthognathic Surgery?

jaw surgery

The smile is made up of components other than teeth. An attractive smile requires aligned teeth, proportional gums and jaws that fit together properly. Misaligned jaws are not only unattractive, but they can also compromise the joint’s ability to chew and cause discomfort for patients. Patients with various types of malocclusions can benefit from jaw surgery known as orthognathic surgery. This category of procedures repositions the upper and/or lower jaws and may also involve the chin. The goal of orthognathic surgery is to improve the way the jaws fit together. This type of surgery may be recommended in cases of TMJ disorders or sleep apnea that has not responded to more conservative interventions. Orthognathic surgery may involve collaboration between an oral surgeon and orthodontist. The orthodontist will begin to bring the teeth into the proper positions, and the surgeon will step in at some point during that process to work…

Will Jaw Surgery Correct My Open Bite?

jaw surgery

Millions of patients each year turn to oral surgery to correct disorders of the chin, jaw, and jaw joint. For many patients, the treatment is part of a joint effort between the oral surgeon, the orthodontist, and the general dentist. An open bite, a condition in which the teeth fail to come together even when the jaw is completely closed, is often corrected with jaw surgery. In some mild cases, an open bite can be corrected with orthodontics, or braces, alone. For more advanced cases, it is necessary to reposition the upper or lower jaw to resolve the issue. An oral surgeon is a dentist who has received specialized training in surgical procedures related to the health of the head, neck, and face. This training includes a particular focus on anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and pharmacology. The additional education and experience in these areas prepares oral surgeons to care for you…

When Is Jaw Surgery Recommended?

jaw surgery

Patients may need to undergo jaw surgery for any number of reasons. For example, such procedures may correct congenital problems or repair the joint following an injury or trauma. Jaw surgery can help to alleviate a variety of symptoms, from pain and discomfort to difficulty chewing to sleep apnea. Some people choose jaw surgery for primarily cosmetic factors, too, in order to eliminate an unattractive problem with the bite or to bring the chin into proper proportion with the rest of the face.  If you have signs of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, your general dentist may recommend a consultation with an oral surgeon. Similarly, an orthodontist may recommend surgery for a patient whose case cannot be resolved through braces alone. Prior to undergoing any surgical procedures on your jaw, you and oral surgeon will meet a number of times to plan the surgery. Your surgeon will explore your treatment…