Common Reasons for Jaw Surgery | Oral Surgeon Downers Grove

Orthognathic surgery, also known as jaw surgery, corrects irregularities in the jawbone, bite, and jaw alignment.

Having surgery may seem daunting, but it is usually well worth the years of well-aligned jaws, painless chewing, and an attractive jawline.

Reasons for Jaw Surgery

An oral surgeon may recommend this type of surgery for a variety of reasons. The following are some of the top reasons:

Headaches can be reduced. 

Do you suffer from chronic headaches? TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) patients often grind their teeth at night. Chronic headaches can result, especially first thing in the morning. Nighttime teeth grinding can be reduced and morning headaches can be eliminated with surgery.

Alignment or bite issues are corrected. 

When the upper jaw and bottom jaw are out of alignment, it is called a bad bite, or malocclusion. It can result in difficulty closing the mouth or chewing foods, sleep disruptions, obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ, and more. By correcting the bite and alignment, this type of surgery can reduce adverse symptoms.

Biting and chewing pain. 

TMJ disorder causes serious pain and discomfort when chewing and biting food. In order to reduce pain and discomfort, jaw surgery can adjust the alignment of the jaws.

Enhancement of facial appearance. 

A person with an overbite or an underbite can usually be identified by their outward appearance. When your jaw is pushed forward, it can appear oversized and cause your smile to appear awkward. As a result, when the bottom jaw needs to be moved forward, it may appear that the jaw is underdeveloped with a lack of definition between the jaw and the neck. A patient’s profile and smile can be dramatically improved by surgery.

Maintain healthy teeth by minimizing wear and breakdown.

If the jaw isn’t aligned properly, the back molars may touch while the front teeth don’t. This is called an “open bite.” Over time, pushing the front teeth together can lead to premature wear and tear on the molars. Surgically adjusting your bite will help to minimize excessive wear on your teeth by bringing the teeth together evenly and naturally.

Sleep Apnea

It has been shown that maxillomandibular advancement surgery (MMA) can be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. By repositioning the jaw bones, the surgeon is able to relieve airway obstructions. It is important to note that not all patients are good candidates for MMA surgery, but your oral surgeon can help you decide if you are a good candidate.

Whether you have TMJ pain, bite alignment issues, or obstructive sleep apnea and are considering jaw surgery, our oral surgery office can help. Our highly trained, board-certified oral surgeon is experienced in a variety of jaw surgeries, from the routine to the extreme, and we’d love to help you solve your jaw-related problems. Please contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

Chicago Dental Implants, Oral & Facial Surgery
Phone: (708) 301-5000
10713 W 159th Street
Orland Park, IL 60467

Why Do I Need Oral Surgery for a Tooth Extraction? | Joliet Oral Surgeon

The preservation of a tooth is always a top priority. It may, however, be necessary to extract a tooth when it has been damaged beyond repair. Surgical procedures performed by oral surgeons are generally comfortable and painless due to their extensive training. Let’s take a look at why a tooth extraction may require oral surgery.

Is it possible to save your teeth?

A tooth may need to be extracted as a result of trauma, extensive decay, disease, or crowding. If a tooth is infected and does not respond to root canal treatment or if it is not supported by sufficient bone due to periodontal disease, it may also need to be removed. It is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to be extracted when they are impacted or if they may cause problems in the future.

Surgical vs. simple extraction

Simple extractions are performed when a tooth is visible above the gum line and easily accessible. A tooth that is impacted or trapped in the jaw may need to be removed by removing gum tissue or bone. This is called a surgical extraction, and it may require stitches to allow the site to heal properly.

Are You in Need of a Surgical Extraction?

In most cases, your extraction will be either simple or surgical after we take an x-ray and examine the affected tooth. In some cases, however, a simple procedure can turn into a surgical one, such as when a tooth breaks off during an extraction. 

Surgical extractions are usually required for wisdom teeth that are impacted or have not fully erupted. There are other reasons why you might need a surgical procedure, such as a broken tooth or a root that is long and curved. Sometimes the bone around a tooth is too dense, requiring surgical extraction.

Extraction Aftercare

You will need to bite down on gauze to stop the bleeding after your oral surgery. An ice pack may be helpful if you experience swelling. To avoid dislodging the clot forming in your tooth socket, avoid spitting forcefully, drinking from a straw, or smoking for 48 hours. As a result, you may develop a painful condition called dry socket. You should follow the post-operative instructions provided by our oral surgeon. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

A gentle approach to tooth extraction

We always support conservative treatment options to save teeth, but if an extraction is necessary, our oral surgery team is prepared to assist you. Our goal is to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the procedure, so please rest assured that we will do everything in our power to do so. You can always count on us! Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

Chicago Dental Implants, Oral & Facial Surgery
Phone: (708) 301-5000
10713 W 159th Street
Orland Park, IL 60467