Jaw deformities impact head and neck functions related to breathing, swallowing, speech, chewing, lip closure, and posture. If you have an untreated jaw deformity, you may be experiencing daily issues that impact your ability to eat and speak, temporomandibular joint dysfunction/pain, and even sleep apnea .
In addition, any obvious jaw deformity can cause a hit to your self-esteem due to less-than-ideal smile aesthetics. If you or your child is suffering from issues related to a jaw abnormality, you’ve found the right practice. The board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons at PRECiDENT Center for Facial & Dental Medicine have extensive experience performing life-changing orthognathic surgery in St. Petersburg, FL, and Rogers, AR, in close collaboration with orthodontists.
Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery or jaw osteotomy, is a procedure that corrects developmental or congenital jaw and face abnormalities. It involves repositioning the upper, lower, or jaws to correct misalignment and skeletal disproportion. Although jaw surgery is typically planned after significant facial growth ceases, congenital deformities like cleft palate are corrected in infants. In contrast, major occlusion issues may require interceptive orthodontics and/or surgery when baby teeth are still present. The primary goal of jaw surgery is to restore balance and harmonious function to your jaw and face, resulting in improved chewing, speech, and a better quality of life!
Because treatment typically involves presurgical and postsurgical orthodontics over 6-12 months, our team works closely with your orthodontist. Braces address dental issues such as crooked teeth, while surgery corrects skeletal problems in the orofacial region and bite relationship components. In some cases, chin, cheeks, eyes, nose, neck, and facial skin procedures may be performed in conjunction with jaw surgery to further enhance your facial appearance.
It’s common for the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) to grow at different rates. In many cases, common malocclusion issues such as overbite, underbite, and open bite only require orthodontics.
However, multiple studies indicate at least 5% of people in the U.S. have dentofacial deformities associated with severe malocclusion that require orthognathic surgery. Furthermore, some research suggests nearly 20% of individuals who present for orthodontic assessment would benefit from jaw straightening in conjunction with orthodontics.
The first step on your journey to restored jaw function and aesthetics at PRECiDENT is a consultation with one of our oral surgeons. The frontal assessment focuses on your vertical facial height, tooth and gingival display below your upper lip at rest and smiling, and facial asymmetry. The profile assessment looks at midfacial support, including nasal projection and upper lip support, throat chin length, and chin projection. Lastly, the intraoral assessment looks at occlusion type, midline asymmetries, arch width, overbite/open bite, and dental crowding.
Digital X-rays are sufficient for most orthognathic cases, while our cone-beam computed tomography scanner is an essential diagnostic tool if you have facial asymmetry. Our team relies on computer-aided diagnostics and planning, including the use of articulated surgery models to create surgical templates for jaw positioning during surgery.
More complex jaw surgery in St. Petersburg, FL, and Rogers, AR, is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia. On the day of your procedure, anesthesia is administered to induce a pain- and anxiety-free state. After the anesthesia has taken effect, incisions are made inside your mouth to access the jawbones, ensuring no visible external scarring.
Depending on your case, small plates, screws, or other fixation devices may be required to secure your repositioned jawbone. After the surgical procedure, sutures are used to close the incisions.
Following jawline surgery, a hospital stay of one or two nights is standard practice. In the weeks following your procedure, some swelling and discomfort are normal. We’ll provide postoperative instructions, including dietary/activity restrictions and pain management.
On average, two to four weeks of recovery are required before returning to school or work, depending on the complexity of your surgery. Sometimes, a modified soft diet is recommended for four to six weeks. Bone healing typically takes about six weeks, at which point you’ll return to your orthodontist for completion of orthodontics and finetuning of the occlusion.
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