If you’ve been living for years with jaw joint pain, difficulty chewing or other issues due to a misaligned jaw, there’s no doubt you’re eager to find relief from your troubling symptoms. You may have heard of corrective jaw surgery (also known as orthognathic surgery) and are wondering if this procedure is right for you.
This is a question for the experts. Your dentist, orthodontist and oral surgeon can work together to determine whether you’re a candidate for this procedure. Until then, here’s a checklist of some of the conditions that can be resolved through corrective jaw surgery:
• Difficulties with eating, including chewing, biting and swallowing
• Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache
• Problems with how the top and bottom teeth come together which creates an excessive wear of the teeth, an inability to make the lips meet without straining, and chronic mouth breathing and dry mouth
• Dentofacial deformities that include an “open bite” (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed), protruding lower jaw and receding lower jaw or “weak chin”
• Sleep apnea (breathing problems when sleeping, including snoring)
To find out more, including the cost of corrective jaw surgery, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons. During your appointment, we’ll take X-rays to evaluate your bite and jaw alignment. Using state-of-the-art 3D models and computerized imaging, we can help you understand your underlying condition. By the end of your appointment, you’ll feel fully informed about whether oral surgery is the right decision for you.