Jaw surgery is the more common term for orthognathic surgery. This procedure refers to some different surgical procedures that are performed to treat facial-skeletal and dental issues. The types of surgical procedures vary from a wisdom tooth extraction to facial reconstruction. At Treasure Valley Oral & Facial Surgery, we perform a variety of different jaw surgery procedures to restore your oral health and your overall quality of life.
Do I Need Jaw Surgery?
Issues with your jaw can significantly impact how your mouth functions, the health of your mouth, and your overall quality of life. Issues such as poor alignment, impacted teeth, and a damaged jawbone can make basic functions, like eating and speaking, much more difficult. These issues can make simple movements incredibly painful. They can even impact your quality of sleep.
If issues with your jaw are affecting the use of your mouth and your quality of life, you may benefit from jaw surgery. Before you are recommended for surgery, a thorough oral examination is performed. This enables us to get to the root cause of your issues so that we can provide you with the most effective treatments.
As we examine your mouth, we check your teeth for alignment, wear patterns, and cavities. Your gums are assessed for signs of gum disease and other abnormalities. We take digital X-rays and other images to examine your jawbone, the roots of your teeth, and the other hidden structures within your mouth. Once we have diagnosed the cause of your discomfort, we are then able to formulate a treatment plan that will provide you with the best possible results.
What Issues Can Jaw Surgery Treat?
Jaw surgery may be recommended to treat some different issues, including:
| • | Congenital defects like cleft lip and cleft palate. |
| • | Impacted teeth, most commonly impacted wisdom teeth. |
| • | Severe alignment issues. |
| • | Severe obstructive sleep apnea. |
| • | Chronic mouth breathing. |
| • | Temporomandibular joint disorder. |
| • | Facial trauma. |
| • | Facial imbalances. |
How Jaw Surgery is Done
Once we have determined the exact cause of your symptoms, we are then able to customize a treatment plan to restore your oral health, the functions of your mouth, and your quality of life. Treating your jaw-related issues may also help to improve the quality of your smile and your facial aesthetics, boosting your confidence.
Surgical procedures are typically performed under a local anesthetic. In many cases, some form of sedation may be recommended to ensure your comfort. We then make incisions in your soft tissues, which provide us with access to the jawbone. Through these incisions, we can perform your necessary procedures. This may include extracting teeth, removing or replacing bone mass, or placing plates and screws to stabilize the bone. Surgery generally takes 1 to 3 hours. There are some situations in which surgery may take longer. After your procedure is complete, your soft tissues are sutured closed, and you are provided with aftercare instructions before you go home.
What are the Benefits of Jaw Surgery?
Jaw surgery provides many significant benefits. These include:
| • | Getting rid of jaw pain. |
| • | Restoring your abilities to eat and speak properly. |
| • | Improved digestion and overall nutrition. |
| • | Improved sleep. |
| • | Improving the quality of your smile and boost your confidence. |
Jaw surgery restores the functions of your mouth, your oral health, and your overall quality of life. For more information, and to find out if you can benefit from jaw surgery, call Treasure Valley Oral & Facial Surgery today at (208) 343-0909.
