If you suffer from a misaligned jaw, everyday activities like eating, talking—and sometimes even breathing—can’t be taken for granted.
You’re not alone. You may be surprised to learn the National Institutes of Health reports that a group of jaw problems called temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect more than 10 million Americans. For the majority of people, TMD disorders stem from jaw muscle spasms that cause pain or tightness. For others, there’s an internal problem with the jaw itself, such as poor jaw alignment, which may be caused by hereditary factors, developmental or environmental influences or trauma.
Poor jaw alignment can cause a host of troubling symptoms, including an open bite or protruding jaw; difficulty in biting, chewing and swallowing; speech problems; chronic TMJ discomfort; and breathing problems. To find relief, nonsurgical treatments should be tried first. But if you’ve tried a variety of nonsurgical treatments to no avail, you may be wondering if you’re a candidate for corrective jaw surgery.
The best way to find out if you’re a candidate is to schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon. At Oral & Facial Surgeons of Arizona, we will take X-rays to evaluate your bite and jaw alignment and use state-of-the-art 3-D models and computerized imaging as tools to help you understand your underlying condition and treatments options.
If you are a candidate for corrective jaw surgery, your oral surgeon will discuss with you how the oral surgery can improve your health and appearance. If you decide that corrective jaw surgery is right for you, your oral surgeon will team up with your dentist and orthodontist to work closely together throughout all stages of your treatment.