Jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, is a highly effective procedure used to correct issues such as misaligned bites, TMJ disorders, congenital conditions, facial trauma, and respiratory problems like sleep apnea. The most common types of jaw surgery include mandibular osteotomy (lower jaw realignment), maxillary osteotomy (upper jaw realignment), bimaxillary osteotomy (both jaws), genioplasty (chin surgery), and TMJ surgery (joint treatment). Each procedure is tailored to address specific structural and functional concerns.
Your jaws are some of the most important skeletal structures in your body. They affect your ability to eat, the way you talk, and even the quality of your sleep. When something is wrong with your jaw, it can have impacts on almost every single thing you do throughout the day, and can cause intense pain that makes life nearly intolerable.
Fortunately, jaw surgery – also called orthognathic surgery – is a common practice with an incredible success rate of about 95%. Surgical options can correct issues ranging from TMJ disorder and overbites to obstructive sleep apnea and cancer of the jaw.
While the conditions jaw surgery can correct are many and varied, most surgeries fall into one of five baskets:
- Mandibular osteotomy (surgery on the lower jaw)
- Maxillary osteotomy (surgery on the upper jaw)
- Bimaxillary osteotomy (surgery on both jaws)
- Genioplasty (surgery on the chin)
- TMJ surgery (surgery on the joint between the upper and lower jaws)
What Conditions Can Jaw Surgery Correct?
There are many reasons why a dentist, orthodontist, or physician might refer you to a maxillofacial surgeon for an jaw surgery:
- Malocclusion – a condition in which the jaws are misaligned, such as an overbite, crossbite, or underbite.
- TMJ disorder – a condition in which the temporomandibular joint between the upper and lower jaws is chronically inflamed.
- Congenital conditions – a number of conditions such as cleft palate can be corrected with surgery.
- Traumatic injuries – jaw surgery may be required in the event of a facial trauma, such as an accident leading to a broken jaw.
- Respiratory conditions – some patients who have respiratory issues such as obstructive sleep apnea can find relief after a successful jaw surgery.
What Is a Mandibular Osteotomy?
Mandibular osteotomy is a procedure in which the bone of the lower jaw (the mandible) is cut and realigned (osteotomy). Typically, this type of jaw surgery is used when the upper and lower jaws are badly misaligned (malocclusion), or when the lower jaw has suffered a trauma.
“Malocclusion” is a term used to describe a number of different conditions in which the jaws are not in alignment. Common malocclusions corrected with a mandibular osteotomy include overbites and underbites.
In addition to making eating and sometimes talking uncomfortable and affecting your appearance, a malocclusion can cause more serious conditions such as sleep apnea by allowing the jaw to “fall” backwards during sleep and constrict the upper airways.
During a mandibular osteotomy, the surgeon will make an incision in your gums. They’ll cut the lower jaw and carefully maneuver it into a new position. They’ll then use plates and/or screws to hold your jaw in position and close the incision.
What Are Maxillary and Bimaxillary Osteotomies?
Maxillary osteotomy is the upper-jaw equivalent of a mandibular osteotomy. It’s usually called for when the patient is suffering from:
- A protruding (prognathism) or receding upper jaw
- An open bite, in which the molars don’t touch when the mouth is closed
- A crossbite, in which some bottom teeth sit outside the upper teeth
- Midfacial hyperplasia, a condition involving reduced growth in the central part of the face
A bimaxillary osteotomy is a combination of the two – work is performed on both the upper and lower jaws at the same time.
As with mandibular osteotomy, the surgeon will start with incisions inside your mouth. Because the upper jaw (maxilla) is fused to the skull, the process is more involved, requiring the surgeon to cut the maxilla completely away from the other facial bones and repositioning it as needed.
What Is a Genioplasty?
Genioplasty is usually a reconstructive surgery to improve the alignment of or look of the patient’s chin. It’s usually called for when a patient has a chin that sits too far forward or back or has an excessively long or short chin.
Like the three types of osteotomy mentioned above, a genioplasty starts with an incision inside your mouth. The surgeon will then cut away the part of the mandible that forms your chin and reposition it with screws and/or plates.
What Is TMJ Surgery?
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a very common condition in which the joint between the upper and lower jaws becomes chronically inflamed. The condition can cause pain that intensifies over time to the point of making it almost impossible to open or close your mouth. (You can learn more about TMJ from our recent article, “5 Facts From Your Local TMJ Specialist”)
Orthodontic surgeries to relieve the symptoms of TMJ come in several different forms, including arthorocentesis, arthroscopy, and open joint surgery, each with its own advantages and use cases. Your oral surgeon will work with you to determine what type of procedure will yield the best results for you.
What to Expect After Jaw Surgery
Jaw surgery tends to have a long recovery time, since the surgery involves cutting and reattaching large sections of bone. You will likely need to stay in the hospital for one to four days following the surgery. This recovery period allows your medical team to monitor you and any reactions or complications that may arise from your procedure.
Once you’re discharged, you can expect a recovery period lasting somewhere between six and twelve weeks. You’ll likely spend most, if not all, of that time on a liquid diet, and can then expect to be on a soft diet for a while before finally being allowed to eat a regular diet.
Are you experiencing a complication and think you might need jaw surgery? Talk to Athens Oral Surgery Center about your treatment options today.
Our team will evaluate the condition of your jaw and create a surgical treatment plan to resolve the issue, restore proper functions, and relieve any pain.
Schedule a jaw surgery consultation with our team today! 706-549-5033
Recent Articles:
What to Expect After Wisdom Teeth Removal