Misaligned teeth, a crooked smile, and difficulty chewing are almost always due to one root problem: a misaligned jaw. Other serious problems such as difficulty breathing while asleep can also present themselves. In severe cases, the jaw region might actually hurt even at rest. General therapy to help solve these problems can be provided by an orthodontist. For example, orthodontic braces can be worn to help realign the jaw bones. However, this often isn’t enough. It might take orthognathic surgery to solve the many problems that can be caused by misaligned jaw bones.
What Can Orthognathic Surgery Treat?
Irregularities of the jaw bones cause incorrect jaw closures and bite fits to such an extent that excessive wear and tear of the teeth occur faster than normal. The teeth grind against each other in abnormal ways, wearing the teeth down. Some people with this problem might bite their tongues or the insides of their cheeks while chewing because of it. Orthognathic surgery can repair the misaligned jaw bones and correct chewing problems. Other common issues that can be improved by this kind of surgery include:
- Swallowing problems
- Sleep apnea
- Overbites and crossbites
- Birth defects
- Facial injuries
- Pain and discomfort caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
The Basics of Orthognathic Surgery
Surgery can be performed on the lower jaw, upper jaw, the chin, or a combination of these. Although the surgery is almost always performed on the inside of the mouth, access might be necessary from the outside in some cases.
Our experienced surgeons enter the jawbone and then make adjustments to even them out and fix them in place. As the bones heal, the fasteners actually became part of the structure of the bones themselves. This adds a strengthening and tightening effect that lasts an entire lifetime. The bones of the jaw might also be reshaped to make a better fit in some instances. Other times, extra bone might need to be attached to the jaw bones. Our surgeons might remove these bones from your leg, ribs or hip bones and secure them to your jaw with the formerly mentioned surgical fasteners.
Get In Touch with Us for More Information
For more information about orthognathic surgery, we warmly encourage you to reach out and make an appointment with Central Texas Orthodontics. At our convenient location in Austin, TX, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!
