Orthognathic
Surgery

Orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, is used to realign jaws and teeth and help correct other bone and dental irregularities. If you suffer from the any of the following issues, orthognathic surgery might be a solution to restore optimal functionality and provide relief from pain and discomfort:

• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, and speaking
• TMJ disorder, including headaches
• Severe underbites (receding jaw), overbites (protruding jaw), and open bites (when the upper and lower teeth do not touch, even when the mouth is closed)
• Facial injury or birth defects which lead to faulty jaw positioning
• Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring

At Sandhills Oral Surgery & Implant Dentistry, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are highly trained and fully certified, with many years of experience performing orthognathic surgical procedures. Your doctor will thoroughly examine your situation, explain the treatment and benefits related to surgery, and help you decide whether orthognathic surgery is right for you.

Orthognathic surgery generally requires a long-term commitment on the part of the patient, as it can often take a year or more before treatment is complete. Before surgery, patients are fitted with orthodontics (braces) to help move the jaw into alignment. After the orthodontics stage, your doctor will surgically reposition your jaw using screws and wires while you are under general anesthesia. Extensive jaw wiring is rarely required and only in the more complex cases.

Post-surgery, patients may experience swelling, nasal congestion, and difficulty eating and chewing. Because of this, patients are asked to soften their diet while in recovery to ensure optimal healing. Normal activity is usually possible soon after surgery.

Following recovery, patients can expect noticeable improvements to talking and chewing. Many patients, especially those with underbites, overbites, and open bites, also enjoy cosmetic enhancement that comes from jaw correction.