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Corrective Jaw Surgery


Why is this procedure done?


Corrective jaw surgery is a simple name for orthognathic surgery. Your normal dentist may suggest you see an orthodontist and oral surgeon to learn if you may be helped by corrective jaw surgery. The surgery helps teeth and jaws work better and improves how your face looks. It is a very complex procedure that is often done with the help of other experts. This kind of surgery may help with: ‚  
  • Very bad over or under bites
  • Open bites where your upper and lower teeth do not touch
  • Some speech problems
  • Some jaw pain
  • Injury to the face, jaw, or teeth
  • Birth defects
  • Some cases of sleep apnea
  • Problems chewing, swallowing, or closing lips

Corrective jaw surgery may: ‚  
  • Help the lips, teeth, or jaws to line up the right way
  • Help control how the teeth and jaws become shaped while growing to allow them to fit together better
  • Lower the amount of teeth that may need to be pulled in the future
  • Fix a very serious receding or protruding upper or lower jaw
  • Fix an open bite or problems with chewing or biting
  • Help with sleep apnea or a restricted airway
  • Fix a birth defect
  • Help treat an injury to the face, jaw, or teeth

Are there alternative treatments? ‚  
With mild jaw problems, you may only need appliance therapy or braces. These techniques work best in younger people. In very bad cases or some adults, jaw surgery may be the only option to fix the problem. ‚  

What will the results be?


  • Better aligned teeth
  • Better aligned jaws
  • Better function of the upper and lower teeth
  • Correction of common jaw deformities
  • Better appearance
  • Better speech
  • Better self esteem

What happens before the procedure?


  • Your dentist will take your history and do an exam. Your dentist may also:
    • Order x-rays
    • Take pictures of your mouth
    • Make a mold of your mouth and teeth
  • You most often have to wear braces before and after your surgery. The braces you wear before your surgery may seem to make your problems worse.
  • Talk to your dentist about:
    • All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the dentist about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
    • Any other allergies, like metal allergies.
    • Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your dentist if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin, ibuprofen, Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your dentist about them.
  • Tell your dentist if you are pregnant or you think you are pregnant.
  • Be sure you are motivated to have corrective jaw surgery. It may take a long time to finish your treatment.

What happens during the procedure?


  • Once you are in the operating room, the staff will put an IV in your arm to give you fluids and drugs. You will be given a drug to make you sleepy. It will also help you stay pain free during the surgery. The dentist may also give you drugs to make your jaw numb for the surgery.
  • When you are asleep, the doctors put a tube in your mouth to help you breathe.
  • The dentist cuts the bone of the upper or lower jaw and aligns them properly. This could mean moving the jaws forward, backward, left, or right, based on what you need to align your teeth and jaws.
  • Bone may be added, taken away, or reshaped. The dentist will use metal plates, screws, wires, or rubber bands to hold your jaws in their new positions. Many times the metal plates or screws will stay in place for the rest of your life. Sometimes your dentist may have to take them out if you are having problems.

What happens after the procedure?


  • You may need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 nights after your surgery.
  • The dentist will give you drugs to help with the pain.
  • You will have more appointments with your dentist and will continue to need care for your braces for about another year. You may feel some pain afterwards.
  • You will also need regular dental check-ups 1 to 2 times each year.

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your dentist what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the dentist says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Talk to your dentist about the right kind of diet for you. You may start with liquids and then move to a soft diet before eating normal foods.
  • Suck on ice cubes or ice chips to help ease pain.
  • Learn the right way to clean your teeth after your surgery. Ask the dentist to show you how. Ask your dentist about the best tools for you to use after your surgery to keep your mouth healthy.

What drugs may be needed?


The dentist may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Prevent infection
  • Help with pain and swelling

What problems could happen?


  • Swelling
  • Loss of sensation or numbness in the face, lips, or teeth
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Relapse that requires retreatment
  • Jaw pain
  • Loss of bone

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills
  • More swelling
  • Trouble breathing
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Numbness that does not go away
  • Loose or broken braces or appliances
  • Bleeding

Where can I learn more?


American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) ‚  
http://Myoms.org/procedures/corrective-jaw-surgery ‚  
Pennsylvania Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons ‚  
http://www.psomsweb.org/jaw-surgery.aspx ‚  

Last Reviewed Date


2016-01-19 ‚  

List_set bdysylist


  • Dental
  • Neuromuscular and Skeletal

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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