This page can answer the following questions:
- What is orthognathic Surgery?
- How do I know if I need orthognathic Surgery?
- What is the process for having orthognathic Surgery done?
Orthognathic surgery comes from the Greek words, orthos, meaning straight, and gnathos, meaning jaws. orthognathic surgery shapes up your face by straightening your teeth with orthodantics and repositioning your jaws with corrective jaw surgery. It is part of the practice of Maxillofacial surgery and deals specifically with the jaws and teeth.
If your jaws don't meet correctly and your teeth don't seem to fit with your jaws, you may have a bite problem that makes eating difficult. Your face may appear off-balance, and you may not be happy with the way you look. Your bones and teeth may have grown that way since your child, or you may have injured your face. Whatever the reason your teeth and facial bones can be repositioned to create a more balanced appearance with jaws that work together well.
Your orthognathic team repositioned your teeth and reshaped your jaws during the orthognathic surgery process. Your orthodantics uses braces to move your teeth into the correct position for the bite you'll have to after surgery. Your surgeon, especially training in this type of corrective jaw surgery and reshaped your jobs and possibly other facial bones during surgery to form a better bite in a more pleasing appearance.
- How
do I know if I need orthognathic Surgery?
Problems with chewing or biting.....
A small lower jaw may cost by problems such as not being able to bite
into two or it may cost your chin to look receded. Your upper teeth
may jut out in front of or overlap your lower teeth. The lower teeth
hit the roof of the mouth causing discomfort.
A long upper jaw may cause you to have a gummy smile or some of
your teeth may not meet making chewing difficult.
A small upper jaw may make your upper lip look sunken in and your
upper teeth may look receded. You may have difficulty biting into your
food to.
An open bite, (where most or all of your teeth don't meet), also makes
it difficult to buy or to food. You may not yield closure lips without
straining.
Uneven jaws. If your jaws are overdeveloped on one side or underdeveloped on the other you have an uneven jaw or facial
asymmetry. Your face may appear office center. Your upper or lower
teeth may have shifted over to one side which can make biting and
chewing awkward. The bones around your eyes may also be shaped incorrectly.
Your appearance....
- Do you like the way you look from the front?
- Do you like your profile?
- If you to change something about your face what would be?
- What
is the process for having orthognathic Surgery done?
Your Surgeon and your orthodantist work as a team to accomplish restoring your
jaws and facial to a healthy state.
Your Orthodontist's role
It's important to know that the total treatment may last two years or more.
Your orthodontist will study the position of your teeth and determine how
braces will help your bite for surgery. The health of your teeth jobs and bone
structure will be determined. An exam indicates the position of your teeth. Your
orthodantics will test to your jaws and teeth work together by observing how you
opening close your mouth. Records will document where your teeth are before
braces are put on these records can include taking x-rays of your entire school in
your whole mouth. Cases are made to reproduce your teeth in jaws and initial
("baseline") photographs will be taken.
Your Surgeon's role
Your surgeon will study your jaws to determine how your imbalance affects your
bite and how your bones may be repositioned to improve your jaw's function.
Your history is taken to find out why you need orthognathic surgery. You'll be
asked questions about your current health any previous surgical experiences. An
exam is performed to assess the health and proportions of your entire head and
neck, and your nose, eyes, ears, upper and lower jaws, bite, and mouth.
Additional records such as x-rays or photographs may be necessary at your
surgeon reviews the information about your teeth from your orthodontist.