Learn More About
Jaw Surgery
What are the Different Types of Corrective Jaw Surgery?
Learn About the
Benefits of Jaw Surgery
Many patients are able to benefit from corrective jaw surgery. Often, it’s used as a way to correct congenital defects that have been present since birth. While the defect may not have been noticeable earlier in life, as the patient ages, they may have started experiencing unpleasant symptoms. Jaw surgery can help to improve:
- Speech and pronunciation problems.
- Problems swallowing, biting, or chewing because the mouth does not close fully.
- Protruding jaw, which is when the upper or lower jaw sticks out too far.
- Chronic jaw pain, which is more commonly known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.
- Open bite, which is when there is a noticeable gap when the patient has their jaws closed.
- Problems breathing or severe sleep apnea disorder.
Treatment Process
Anesthesia
Patients will be placed under general anesthesia, so they will be unconscious throughout the entirety of the surgery and will awake when it is complete.
Procedure
During the surgery, our doctors will make incisions inside the mouth so that there are no noticeable scars on the face, mouth, chin, or jaw. They will cut into the jawbone that requires altering and then shift it into the correct position.
Post-Op
After the jaw is aligned, they will secure it in place with wire, screws, plates, or rubber bands so that it can’t shift and revert back to its incorrect positioning.
Recovery Instructions
Because corrective jaw surgery is a complicated procedure, patients may need to stay at a Virginia Beach and Chesapeake area hospital for a few days afterward to ensure they are recovering well. Once their condition has stabilized, they’ll be allowed to return home, where they should continue to rest and take it easy. In fact, they’ll probably have to take off at least two weeks from work or school to give their jaw time to heal.
It will also be some time before patients can return to their normal eating and drinking habits. They will not be able to chew or bite for at least two months after the surgery, and complete function of the jaw may not be completely normalized for a year. During this time, nutritious soft and liquid foods are recommended to give the body the vitamins and minerals it needs to recover.
To keep an eye on the patient’s progress, our doctors will recommend weekly checkup appointments for up to two months after the corrective jaw surgery. This gives them a chance to check jaw function, make sure the incisions are closing, and see if the patient has any other complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
