Orthognathic Surgery

Orthognathic Surgery Basics

"Orthognathic" is a big, fancy word which simply means straight jaw. So, orthognathic surgery is surgery which helps to straighten the jaw. This sort of surgery can be used to treat a number of aesthetic and functional problems.

Orthognathic surgery can commonly be used to solve sleep apnea and TMJ disorders. It can also be used to treat severe malocclusion (when the upper and lower jaw do not meet properly, causing overbites or underbites). Orthognathic surgery can prove very useful in treating inborn defects such as cleft palates. It can also be used to treat orthodontic problems which cannot be treated through braces and other means.

Because orthognathic surgery can be fairly intense, it typically requires general anesthesia. During the procedures, the surgeon will frequently cut one or both of the jaws. These cuts in the upper and lower jaws allow the surgeon to reposition the jaws in a more correct alignment. The surgery can usually be performed entirely through the mouth, so scars on the facial skin are uncommon. Once the bones have been adequately repositioned, the surgeon will usually wire them together.

Orthognathic surgery can be very expensive. This sort of surgery frequently ranges between about $20,000 and about $40,000. However, this surgery can be covered by health insurance. If the facial conditions contribute to speech apnea or breathing problems, this will increase the chances of your insurance provider being willing to help pay. Whether or not your insurance company is willing to pay will depend on your own unique situation and on the policies of your insurance provider.

After the surgery, most patients need to spend one night in the hospital. However, patients can typically return home the next day. Prior to the surgery, the surgeon will prescribe pain medications and antibiotics in order to help keep the patient comfortable and to prevent infections.

Immediately after orthognathic surgery, patients need to have an entirely liquid diet. However, as time progresses, soft foods and then finally hard foods can be re-introduced. It is important not to chew anything until the surgeon okays it. Premature chewing could interfere with healing, and it could alter the position of the bones, requiring additional corrective surgery.

There are a number of possible complications associated with orthognathic surgery. Like any surgery, there is the possibility of nausea, vomiting, bleeding, infection, and anesthesia-related complications. If the doctor damages facial nerves during the surgery, some amount of facial numbness is possible. This lack of sensation can be temporary, but it is sometimes permanent.

The surgery can also change the shape and appearance of the patient's nose. This is especially likely if the upper jaw is significantly altered. In some cases, this nasal change is negative, and in some cases it actually improves a person's appearance. If you're worried about nasal change, discuss it with your surgeon. There may be things that you can do to minimize the chances of severe alterations to your nose.

Patients typically need to rest and recovery for a few weeks. Pain and swelling will disappear over time, although they can sometimes continue for months after the surgery. In particularly difficult surgeries, complete healing may take up to a year.