Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Surgery

What is Orthognathic Surgery?

Orthognathic surgery is a corrective jaw surgery performed that deals with a wide range of skeletal and dental abnormalities. The jaw surgery is designed to restructure the jaw in a manner that improves basic functions for the patient such as chewing, speaking, and breathing. Although a change in aesthetics is also accomplished, orthognathic jaw surgery is primarily a corrective surgery performed to improve the functionality of the jaw.

How Do I Know if I Need Orthognathic Surgery?

Below is a list of some of the conditions that may point towards the need for corrective jaw surgery. If you suffer from any of these, it is recommended that you schedule a consultation with Ruben Cohen, DDS:

• Difficulty chewing or biting food
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache
• Excessive wear of the teeth
• Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
• Unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
• Facial injury or birth defects
• Receding chin
• Protruding jaw
• Inability to make the lips meet without straining
• Chronic mouth breathing and dry mouth
• Sleep apnea (breathing problems when sleeping, including snoring)

How is Jaw Surgery Performed?

Corrective jaw surgery often requires pre-surgical preparations that attempt to realign the teeth towards the new structural formation. The realignment will be closely monitored through the use of x-rays, pictures, and models of your teeth. The surgery itself can last up to several hours during which the jaw bones may be restructured, realigned, added to, or removed from your jaw based on the specific needs of the patient. Orthodontic treatment is often performed at the same time.