An oral or maxillofacial surgeon typically performs jaw surgery to readjust or to realign the jaw. This helps to improve facial appearance as well as improve how the jaw works. Oral surgeons perform jaw surgery in severe cases that orthodontics cannot fix. However, jaw surgery helps treat many dental conditions, including:
Bone Loss
If you have missing teeth for a long period, the lack of stimulation will ultimately cause the bone supporting the teeth to shrink. Patients with bone loss who are considering getting a dental procedure such as dental implants will require jaw surgery. The oral surgeon will place a bone graft, which helps the bone grow before the implant surgery can occur.
Jaw Disorders
A dentist may recommend jaw surgery in severe cases of certain jaw disorders. These include overbite, underbite, openbite, crossbite, and even TMJ disorder. In these severe cases, the only way to offer relief is through surgery.
Missing or Loose Teeth
A gap left behind by a missing tooth can cause severe dental health problems such as misalignment of teeth, and sometimes, it can lead to further teeth loss. A common solution is the installation of dental implants. The oral surgeon will place the implant on the jaw through a surgical procedure known as dental implant surgery.
Facial Fractures
There are many ways that a person can break their jaw. If you happen to break your jaw, either the upper or lower jaw, chances are that you are going to need oral surgery to repair the damage.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that blocks your airway through the airway muscles, tongue, or even tonsils. This will cause you to stop and start breathing throughout the night. Thus, the patient will need a surgical procedure known as maxillomandibular advancement.
It is important to know that jaw surgery is not a one-time thing. It is a long process that can take years to complete. Thus, it is always important to consult with your dentist and ask about the length of the procedure from presurgery to post-surgery.
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An oral or maxillofacial surgeon typically performs jaw surgery to readjust or to realign the jaw. This helps to improve facial appearance as well as improve how the jaw works. Oral surgeons perform jaw surgery in severe cases that orthodontics cannot fix. However, jaw surgery helps treat many dental conditions, including: