Posted on 2/21/2022 by Southern Family Dental Care
What does it mean to have jaw surgery? What are the different types of jaw surgeries? If you're wondering, then this blog post is for you.
Here at Southern Family Dental Care, we'll give you an overview of what's involved in these procedures and answer some common questions about what happens during and after surgery.
You'll also learn more about how surgeons decide which type of procedure they will perform on your mouth based on your needs, goals, and desires. Let's get started!
What does it mean to have jaw surgery?
Jaw problems can cause difficulty chewing properly, headaches, irregular tooth alignment (or crowding), TMJ disorders, breathing issues like snoring or sleep apnea, facial pain, shifting teeth due to missing teeth or damaged roots, speech impediments including lisping and poor diction.
Corrective jaw procedures can help reduce these symptoms by realigning your lower and upper jaws into proper alignment. The goal is that you will eat easily again without discomfort; enjoy better oral health, and eliminate other issues.
What are the different types of jaw surgeries?
There are many different jaw surgeries, but the most common are corrective procedures to fix a misaligned bite. This type of surgery is called orthognathic surgery, and it's typically used when braces haven't been successful in correcting the problem. Other types of jaw surgeries include:
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Dental implants: A dental implant replaces the root of one or more missing teeth. It's made from titanium, and it acts as an anchor to attach replacement teeth: called crowns, bridges, and dentures.
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Jaw reduction: A jaw reduction surgery is a cosmetic procedure to reduce the size of your lower jaw. It's often used to correct an overly wide face or a square-shaped jaw.
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Jaw replacement: In some cases, patients may need their entire lower jaw replaced due to extensive damage or infection. In this situation, surgeons will remove the damaged bone and replace it with an artificial implant made from titanium or plastic.
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Jaw augmentation: Jaw augmentation is a type of surgery that adds additional bone to your jaw. We can use it to correct an underdeveloped chin or give the lower half of your face more contour and definition.
Every patient's case varies, so it may take several consultations with our experts before finding out exactly what kind of corrective jaw surgery you need. We work closely with orthodontists, oral surgeons, maxillofacial (or facial) plastic surgeons for this important decision. If you have any questions, please reach out and call us at 470-410-9774!
About Us - Peachtree Corners, GA • Southern Family Dental Care At Southern Family Dental Care, we want our patients to maintain healthy, bright & beautiful smiles! Click here to learn more about us. Call to schedule! Southern Family Dental Care - Clint Baugham DDS, 3961 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 100, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 - 470-410-9774 - southernfamilydentalcare.com - 11/2/2024 - Key Phrases: dentist Peachtree Corners GA -