Jaw Surgery/Orthognathic Surgery
Often, patients’ teeth do not line up properly. This can be due to a dental problem, a skeletal problem, or a combination of both. If improper alignment is due to a dental problem, it can be treated solely with orthodontics. If there is a skeletal problem, the patient will require corrective jaw surgery as well as orthodontics.
Orthognathic or corrective jaw surgery is performed in the operating room and usually requires an overnight hospital stay. This procedure will give the patient proper form and function.
Patients can receive other benefits from this procedure. Often there is a cosmetic benefit to the facial profile from this procedure. Patients with a small jaw often have sleep apnea. This procedure can help provide relief from this problem.
Patients will have to have braces placed by an orthodontist before surgery to level and align the teeth and maintain braces after the surgery for a period of time that will be determined by the orthodontist.
