Orthognathic surgery
It often also leads to the rapid deterioration of teeth and difficulty in chewing
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It often also leads to the rapid deterioration of teeth and difficulty in chewing
Jaw surgery may be performed for patients with the severe upper jaw or lower jaw discrepancy.
A maxillary osteotomy may be performed to correct these issues:
From inside the mouth, your surgeon cuts the bone above your teeth so that the entire upper jaw and your upper teeth can move as one unit. The jaw and upper teeth are moved forward until they fit properly with the lower teeth.
Once the jaw is realigned, tiny screws and plates hold the bone in its new position. These screws which are smaller than a bracket used for braces become integrated into the bone structure over time.
A significantly receded/protruded lower jaw can be corrected by a procedure called mandibular osteotomy.
In this procedure, the surgeon makes cuts behind the molars and lengthwise down the jawbone so the front of the jaw can move as one unit. As a result, the jaw slides smoothly to its new position. Screws hold the jaw bone together until it heals.
A deficient chin often accompanies a severely receded/protruded lower jaw. Deficient chin can be fixed by a procedure called genioplasty, where your surgeon cuts your chin bone and secures it in a new position.
