Maybe you’ve been to the orthodontist and learned that you need to consider jaw surgery. Several conditions can’t be treated with regular orthodontic care, like braces. The only way to correct these conditions involves changing the relationship between the upper and lower jaw. Or maybe you or a loved one has a skeletal deformity that requires correction. Regardless of the situation, getting clear answers before orthognathic surgery is a good idea.
About 1 out of 20 people have some type of dentofacial deformity that needs corrective surgery. In many cases, the effects of this type of abnormality don’t show up until a few years go by. For example, a patient may have an overbite or underbite. As a child, the condition may be noted but never corrected. And there may not be any symptoms.
However, a poor bite may ultimately stress the jaw muscles and joints. Over time, the disharmony can cause pain and possibly arthritis. If chronic pain settles in, there may not be any way to eliminate the discomfort. That’s why bite and jaw discrepancies should be evaluated by a knowledgeable clinician. In some cases, braces and fixed appliances can correct these conditions, but the timing usually needs to be during active growth and development. In other cases, orthognathic oral surgery is the only remedy to restore the relationship between the upper and lower jaws.
Orthognathic surgery takes a team approach for the best outcome. A general dentist should be involved in the overall treatment plan and help the communication channels between all the involved doctors. An orthodontist serves a critical role, and braces are often used before and after surgery to set up and refine the outcome. This attention to detail ensures that teeth fit together and function properly after surgery.
A general dentist has the advantage of following children as they grow. This tracking allows them to identify growth-related issues as they’re happening. The timing of an orthodontic evaluation and treatment can dramatically affect the need for surgery. In fact, with the right treatment at just the right time, surgery may be completely unnecessary. Orthognathic surgery risks chatting: Oral surgery info blogging about possible side effects or things that may go wrong with orthognathic surgery? The good news is that it is rare for something bad to happen - but like all surgeries, there are possible bad outcomes. This can include lip numbness, excess bleeding, and sometimes bad bite outcomes. As mentioned, this is somewhat rare happening in the US, though this is a possibility. The key is having a good treatment plan, good dental x-rays of teeth and jaw, and an expert oral surgeon/dentist/orthodontist.
The orthognathic surgery question we get asked is, will there be scars on my face due to this procedure? The answer should be no - your oral surgeon should be doing inside the mouth and should generally not be leaving some sort of scar.
A narrow palate is a good example of a developmental issue that may need orthognathic surgery once growth finishes. But it may be avoided if palatal expansion occurs during critical growth years, a treatment that is relatively easy to accomplish. Research shows that narrow palates often lead to sleep disorders due to obstructed breathing patterns. This may present an Attention Deficit Disorder, delayed growth, and learning difficulties. Adults may experience the same challenges. Orthognathic oral surgery may be the only remedy in some cases.
Cleft lip and palate conditions often involve multiple surgeries starting at a young age. Underdeveloped chins can be corrected with the advancement of the jaw or part of the lower jawbone, the mandible.
A common Oral Surgery Question about Orthognathic Treatment Procedure we get asked is, Does orthognathic surgery hurt?
Most dentists and oral surgeons will place the patient under general anesthesia - that is, the patient is put to sleep when they do this procedure. Afterward the surgery, the patient can expect to have some off-and-on pain for one to two weeks - though, this can vary.
Oral surgery blogging about orthognathic corrective jaw surgery for TMJ Pain: Orthognathic corrective jaw surgery is sometimes used for people that have TMJ pain. For many, this does help - but like all surgeries, this procedure does not work for all. Not all TMJ cases or people with TMJ should get orthognathic surgery. It is best to have a full set of good skeletal X-rays and a thorough treatment plan - before deciding to do so. Many people with TMJ, get non-surgical dental treatment -- which many times do work and other times it does not. TMJ treatment can be tricky and hard to treat.
In this oral surgery info blog, local oral surgeon treatment blogging post, and orthognathic surgery blog >> we discussed why people sometimes opt into having this oral surgery treatment. We get asked many oral surgery questions online at DentalChat. TMJ Pain Blogging Online and how to fix TMJ with oral surgery was done in this local dental blog. Whether it is Oral surgery blogging about orthognathic corrective jaw surgery procedure or Local oral surgery blogging about orthognathic surgery treatment question blog about the pain one can expect after the treatment - we at DentalChat are always looking to help answer your local dental questions online.
Fortunately, orthognathic surgery gives options to patients that struggle with various deformities of the upper and lower jaw. If you’ve been told you may need surgery, or you’re concerned about your chewing or appearance, find a dentist who can help you understand your options. At DentalChat, we can Help Answer Dental Questions and connect you to Local Dentists Near You or in your area to help you learn more! Live Dental Chat with Local Dentists and Find Dentist Question Answers using our simply smart tech. We have many great Local Dentistry Information Blogs you can read from. Take advantage of all that Dental Chat has to offer.