Corrective
jaw surgery, as the name suggests, is a procedure to correct
abnormalities in the jaw to improve teeth alignment and bite. It can
be used for many reasons, and it is necessary for some patients
before they get braces.
If
your bite isn't quite right, and your dentist has mentioned
corrective jaw surgery, check out these frequently asked questions to
learn more.
Who
Needs Corrective Jaw Surgery?
Corrective
jaw surgery fixes many issues, starting with temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) pain and headaches. While TMJ is often corrected at home,
surgery may be required if nothing else fixes the problem.
Other
reasons you may need corrective jaw surgery are genetic. For example,
if you were born with a protruding lower jaw or an open bite, braces
alone won't fix the problem because they only move your teeth, not
the jawbone.
If
you haven't noticed any visual symptoms, such as an open bite, look
for other clues you may need corrective jaw surgery. These include
chronic mouth breathing and sleep apnea, which may be present with
severe snoring.
Overall,
however, corrective jaw surgery should make biting, chewing,
speaking, and breathing easier.
What's
Upper Versus Lower Jaw Surgery?
If
you have a defect in your upper jaw, you'll need upper corrective jaw
surgery. This helps fix protruding upper teeth (overbite), crossbite,
and facial hypoplasia. In some cases, you may also need the surgery
if you have excess bone growth above the molars; this can give the
surface an angle, which causes teeth to grow at an angle.
Lower
corrective jaw surgery is used for fewer issues. In fact, it is
commonly used when the lower jaw sticks out or in too far. If you
need work on your chin, a chin surgery or genioplasty may be
performed. These procedures help make abnormally small chins larger.
What
Can You Expect During Treatment?
Treatment
may begin with a bone graft from another part of your body. This is
necessary if you don’t have enough bone to reshape the jawbone
properly.
Next,
if you're getting upper jaw surgery, the jawbone above the teeth is
cut, so the teeth and palate move as one. This allows the dentist to
find the right angle for a proper bite. Once the angle is selected,
plates and screws are used to secure it.
If
you need to correct a protruding or caved in lower jaw, the surgeon
will make a vertical cut behind the lower back molars. This allows
the jaw to be pulled forward or pushed back as needed. Again, screws
and plates are used to secure the bone while it heals.
Even
after treatment, however, you may still need braces to correct
individual teeth.
How
Do You Care for Your Jaw After Treatment?
Corrective
jaw surgery is a rather invasive procedure, so it has a recovery
process, which may take up to 12
weeks.
During this time, you need to be gentle with your mouth by only
eating soft foods, and completely avoid anything sticky.
You'll
also need to keep impeccable care of your teeth and gums by keeping
them well cleaned. Failure to do so can lead to bacteria infecting
the site. Finally, if you smoke, you'll need to stop, and avoid doing
anything too strenuous to avoid potential injury.
Braces
are great at fixing many issues, but sometimes they aren't enough.
Corrective jaw surgery can fix many issues, including an open bite or
a protruding lower jaw.
If
you believe you are a good candidate for corrective jaw surgery, or
if you want to know more about the procedure and how it may benefit
your smile, contact
us at
Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics today.
