Reasons Why You Might Require Jaw Surgery

Types of Jaw Surgery

Jaw surgery can be a corrective option if you have a jaw condition that braces can’t fix. There are three main types of corrective jaw surgeries:

• Maxillary osteotomy (Maxilla surgery): Used when the upper jaw sticks out too little or too much
• Mandibular osteotomy (Mandible surgery): Used when your lower jaw sticks out too little or too much
• Bimaxillary osteotomy (Double jaw surgery): Used when both jaws are affected

Why You Might Require Jaw Surgery

Described below are some of the reasons why you might require jaw surgery:

Facial Trauma Treatment

When a certain trauma happens to the facial area, you might need jaw surgery to fix the damage done to the jawbone or teeth. Corrective jaw surgery can help you recover in a better way and can improve jaw functioning and appearance.

Speech Impediment Treatment

Several factors contribute to having a speech impediment, including jaw misalignment, also known as malocclusion. Patients with malocclusion have either a crossbite, an underbite, or an overbite. This happens when the lower and upper jaws do not meet correctly and can interfere with the teeth, lips, and tongue.

A jaw surgery can correct this issue, allowing the patient to shape sounds correctly and pronounce words with more accuracy and clarity. They might also require speech therapy so that they understand the way that their tongue works.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

There are several reasons why a patient may suffer from TMJ, including:

• Teeth clenching or grinding
• Arthritis
• Injury
• Jaw misalignment
• Genetics

A jaw surgery can be effective for TMJ and involves fewer risks and complications than an open-joint surgery.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

A misaligned jaw can often lead to sleep apnea, which can be dangerous if left untreated. For this, the jaw is adjusted slightly to shift forward and prevent the throat tissues from interfering with your good night’s sleep. This is the least invasive type of surgery and can be treated easily. This procedure is particularly helpful for individuals whose sleep apnea is caused by structural issues in the jaw and face that obstruct the airflow.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are found in the back corners of the mouth on the bottom and top for adults. Dental surgeons may recommend jaw surgery for those whose wisdom teeth do not have room to grow and impact the surrounding teeth. Some dental surgeons may even suggest a wisdom teeth extraction even if it is not causing any problems. This is done so as to avoid any problems in the future.