Jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, is necessary when the upper and lower jaws do not meet correctly or do not fit together properly. The goal of jaw surgery is to treat any jaw imbalance and the resulting incorrect bite, which could adversely affect the proper functioning of the teeth as well as the esthetic appearance of the face. Jaw abnormalities and facial deformities may be caused by genetics, injury, or disease. While braces are commonly used to straighten teeth, many people require orthognathic surgery to properly align their bite. Orthognathic surgery is normally planned and executed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in conjunction with an orthodontist. Working together, the orthodontist will work to position the teeth so that they will properly occlude following jaw surgery. Orthodontics alone can correct bite problems when only the teeth are involved. Orthognathic surgery may be required if the jaws require repositioning.
The following problems may be corrected with jaw surgery:
- Difficulty in chewing, biting or swallowing
- Speech problems
- Chronic jaw or TMJ pain
- Open bite
- Protruding jaw
- Receding chin
- Breathing problems
- Sleep Apnea
- Unbalanced facial appearance from the front, or side
