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.
