Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is necessary when poor jaw alignment is present.
The cause of poor jaw alignment can be either genetic, developmental or due to a trauma. This may affect the maxilla (upper jaw), the mandible (lower jaw) or both jaws at once. The misalignment of jaws can lead to a variety of problems such as difficulty eating, mispronunciation, breathing issues, teeth, jaw or muscle pain.
Orthognathic surgery is necessary for patients for which a conventional orthodontic intervention does not allow for proper alignment of teeth. When the dentist judges that a patient could benefit from orthognathic surgery, a full clinical examination will be initiated, including panoramic and cephalometric x-rays, dental imprints, clinical pictures and data. The orthodontist and your surgeon will work together in order to determine the necessary surgery required and the optimal timing. In general, orthodontic treatment (braces) is necessary to align the dental arches and straighten the teeth for 12 to 24 months prior to the surgery as well as for 6 months after the procedure.
Here are a few examples of patients who have undergone corrective jaw surgery at our clinic.
The jaw surgery is done under general anesthesia at the CSSS Gatineau. A short hospital stay is required and a recovery period of 2 to 4 weeks is to be expected.
Your surgeon will give you all the necessary information concerning the benefits of this surgery, the postoperative instructions and potential risks pertaining to the surgery.