Why on Earth Would Someone
Choose to Have Jaw Surgery?!
As we age, it is common for the growth of our jaws to stop developing or to develop disproportionately. Oftentimes, the upper and lower jaws grow at a different rate. Birth defects and facial trauma can also have an affect on proper jaw alignment. While orthodontics can be used to treat teeth misalignment, corrective jaw surgery may be necessary to correct misalignment of the jaws.
Corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) to correct skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth. Surgery can correct chewing problems, speech issues, jaw pain, and improve your overall quality of life. While orthognathic surgery is performed to correct functional problems, it can also dramatically improve physical appearance.
Here are some of the conditions that that may indicate the need for corrective jaw surgery:
- Difficulty chewing, biting, or swallowing
- Speech problems
- Chronic jaw pain or TMJ pain
- Excessive wear of the teeth
- Open bite (when the mough is closed)
- Unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
- Facial injury
- Birth defects
- Receding chin or protruding jaw
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Sleep apnea
For some people, the thought of surgery sounds intimidating and they may elect to live with these conditions rather than address them. However, it is important to think about the lifelong benefits that corrective jaw surgery can have on your health, quality of life, and overall happiness or wellbeing.
Here at McGann Facial Design, the specialty of our practice is lifestyle facial design. We love knowing that we are not only making a positive impact on our patients’ health, but that we are helping to change the way they face the world.
To determine if you’re a good candidate for corrective jaw surgery, schedule a consultation today or visit our website to learn more about what makes us different.