OMS PROCEDURES
ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is performed to correct a wide range of skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth. While your appearance may be dramatically enhanced as a result of the surgery, it is primarily performed to correct functional problems. Orthognathic surgery moves your teeth and jaws into a new position that results in a more attractive and healthy dental-facial relationship, which can improve chewing, speaking, and breathing.
NEED FOR CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERY
Your dentist, orthodontist, and oral surgeon will work together as a team to determine whether or not you are a candidate for orthognathic surgery. The most common reasons why patients require orthognathic surgery are one or more of the following:
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Speech problems
- Breathing problems
- Open bite
- Protruding jaw
- Small or undersized jaw
- Gummy smile
A consultation appointment with your oral surgeon will determine which method of corrective jaw surgery is most appropriate for your individual needs. It is important to understand that your treatment, which almost always includes orthodontics before and after surgery, may take several years to complete
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERY?
Before your surgery, orthodontic braces move the teeth into alignment with the surrounding jaws. This is to prepare the teeth to fit together after surgery, and may feel quite foreign until after the surgery. As your orthodontic treatment progresses, your orthodontist will send us all necessary information (including X-rays, photographs, and models) prior to your scheduled surgical procedure. We may also take additional X-rays at our office to help us plan your treatment. Your oral surgeon will use this information to fabricate surgical guides to be utilized during your surgery.
During the surgical procedure, your surgeon will reposition the jawbones in accordance with your specific needs. Surgical plates, screws, wires and rubber bands may be used to hold your jaws in their new positions. Incisions are usually made inside the mouth to reduce visible scarring; however, some cases do require small incisions outside of the mouth. These small “nick” incisions almost always heal with small unnoticeable scars.
