Corrective Jaw Surgery

DENTAL HEALTH (GENERAL PATIENT AWARENESS IN DENTISTRY)

This is primarily a functional rectification/correction of problems in jaws (disproportionate growth), teeth, temporo-mandibular joint resulting in bite disharmony that can’t be corrected by non-surgical means alone. Usually, these procedures are done by oral & maxilla-facial surgeons and sometimes with assistance of plastic surgeons/cosmetic surgeons.

WHEN IS CORRECTIVE SURGERY NEEDED??

Difficulty in chewing food

Protruding jaw (upper/lower)

Retro-positioned/smaller jaw (upper/lower)

Snoring & sleep apnea

Open bite (space between upper and lower teeth even when other teeth are clenched)

Jaw or joint pain associated headaches

Disproportionate facial appearance from front/sideways

Facial injury

Birth defects

Speech defects related to skeletal or soft tissue problems

Jaw deviation

TYPES OF CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERIES

Maxillary osteotomy (deals with upper jaw)
- Advancement
- Setback

Maxillary osteotomy (deals with upper jaw)
- Advancement
- Setback
- Genioplasty (chin related)

Combined

General risks involved in any surgical procedure shall be considered. Dento-facial deformities pose both functional as well as aesthetic challenges. Cosmetic enhancement is always a welcome by-product of such procedures and is most obvious post-surgery. Sometimes, a combination of orthodontic alignment and surgical jaw correction may be needed to resolve the related deformity.