Corrective Jaw Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and it includes the correction of misaligned upper and lower jaws and teeth, and often other structures such as the chin and cheek bones. The primary goal is to correct your function, improving speaking, chewing, and breathing. Often this procedure can also dramatically enhance your appearance.
Conditions that may indicate the need for corrective jaw surgery:
- Difficulty chewing, or biting food
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache
- Excessive wear of the teeth
- Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
- Unbalanced facial appearance from the front, or side
- Facial injury
- Birth defects
- Receding lower jaw and chin
- Protruding jaw
- Inability to make the lips meet without straining
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Sleep apnea (breathing problems when sleeping, including snoring)