Corrective Jaw Surgery
New York, NY
At times, larger jaw restorative procedures, known as orthognathic surgery, may be necessary to correct either congenital or trauma related conditions or discrepancies of the jaws and face. Dr. Del Valle and Dr. Shahgoli, along with our team at Manhattan Maxillofacial Surgery Group, can evaluate the facial structure and growth to determine the course of action necessary to correct orthodontic, or jaw related, problems that cannot be easily treated with braces. Jaw corrective surgery is also commonly used as a course of treatment for conditions including obstructive sleep apnea and TMJ disorders.
Is corrective jaw surgery necessary?
In order to determine if orthognathic surgery is needed, we will first perform a full evaluation of the specific situation. Patients who are experiencing conditions such as clicks, pain, or difficulty in opening or closing their jaw should not ignore signs of possible trouble. If we then determine that the patient has an improper bite or that their jaws are positioned poorly, we will work with the patient in developing a treatment plan, for some patients, orthognathic surgery may be the answer.
As a standard, patients who are experiencing difficulty in the following areas should seek the evaluation of one of our oral surgeons at Manhattan Maxillofacial Surgery Group.
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Pain in Chewing:If you are experiencing pain, tiredness or soreness in your jaw from eating, chewing, or swallowing. |
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Pain in Speaking:If you are finding it difficult to open your mouth to speak, or find your jaw is sore or tired after a period of talking. |
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Pain in Breathing:If your jaw is finding it difficult to open or feels sore or tired when you are breathing. |
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Protruding Jaw:Experiencing a protruding jaw, possibly forcing your mouth to stay slightly open or have an open bite which makes it difficult or impossible to entirely close your mouth. |
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Continuous Pain:Patients who experience damaging and continuous problems with jaw pain, clicking, tiredness in their jaw indicating a TMJ disorder. |
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Bruxism:The effects of bruxism which may include clenching your teeth, or grinding your teeth unconsciously, generally while you sleep. |
Congenital Problems Requiring Orthognathic Surgery
There are various congenital birth and growth problems that may require surgical intervention. Orthognathic surgery is a treatment that is needed when a patient has been born with the insufficient growth of the maxilla, an orofacial cleft, known as a cleft lip or cleft palate. If not properly taken care of, these issues can cause problems with eating and speech.
Orthognathic surgery is also often needed after reconstruction of cleft palate or other major craniofacial anomalies. Careful coordination between the surgeon and orthodontist is essential to ensure that the teeth will fit correctly after the surgery.
Jaw Surgery Preceding Orthodontic Work
In most situations, the actual orthognathic surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, such as Dr. Del Valle or Dr. Shahgoli, who works in collaboration with your Orthodontist. Most surgical procedures precede the placement of braces or other orthodontic device.
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