Orthognathic surgery is also called jaw surgery. It corrects the irregularity of the jaw bones and does the realignment of jaws and teeth to improve their working. By doing these corrections the facial appearance is improved too. There are various dental hospitals in Kannur which provide orthognathic surgical procedures.
Why is orthognathic surgery recommended?
The process of orthognathic surgery is recommended if a person's jaw-related issues are not resolved with orthodontics. Jaw surgery at a dental clinic in Kannur helps in the following aspects:-
It makes the process of biting and chewing easier.
It rectifies problems with speech or swallowing.
It reduces a lot of wear and tears on the teeth.
It rectifies jaw closure issues.
It rectifies facial asymmetry like small chin, crossbite, and under and overbite issues.
It helps the lips to close fully and easily.
It gives relief from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and related jaw issues.
It mends facial injury and birth defects.
It also gives relief from obstructive sleep apnea.
If you are experiencing any such symptoms then it is recommended that you consult a dental specialist in Kannur immediately.
Who can perform orthognathic surgery?
Orthognathic surgery is done by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The surgery is done under general anesthesia. It may require a 2-to-4-day stay at the hospital.
It is not a simple but complex process because the process initiates with orthodontia, then jaw surgery, and then some time is given for recovery after which more of the orthodontia process is done.
The time taken for surgery at the best dental clinic in Kannur on one jaw can be about one to two hours. And surgery involving many procedures can take as long as 3 to 5 hours.
The recovery time after the orthognathic procedure at the best dental hospital in Kannur can take 6 weeks and complete healing can take upto 12 weeks. But the complete process from surgery to braces can take 2 to 3 years.
How is orthognathic surgery conducted?
A dental surgeon in Kannur will initially put braces on the teeth before the surgery. These are put on for 12 or 18 months before the surgical procedure to level up the teeth. The treatment plan is formed by the orthodontist and maxillofacial surgeon together. They take x-rays, pictures, and models of the teeth.
The surgery procedure can be done inside the mouth so that no facial scars show on the chin, jaw, or around the mouth. But at times there can be a need for small incisions outside the mouth. The surgeon cuts the jawbones and moves them to the right position. When the movement of the jaw is completed the tiny bone plates, screws, and wires can be used to secure the bones in their new places. These screws are smaller than brackets used for braces and they set with the bone structure with time. Sometimes extra bone can be added to the jaw. The surgeon can transfer bone from the hip, leg, or rib and secure it with screws and plates. The jaw surgery can be done on the upper, and lower jaw and chin or a combination of them.
Upper jaw (Maxillary Osteotomy)
Surgery can be done on the upper jaw to rectify issues like-
A protruding or visibly receded upper jaw.
A crossbite.
Showing off too much and too few teeth.
An open bite.
Midfacial hypoplasia or reduced facial growth of mid-face.
The surgeon will cut the bone above the teeth so that the complete top jaw which includes the roof of the mouth and the upper teeth can be moved as a single unit. The jaw and upper teeth are moved forward until they fit nicely with the lower teeth. It can be done by using a computer to know if additional work like that of orthodontics will be required to rectify any other remaining issues.The issue of open bite happens when extra bone grows just above the molar teeth making a flat and even surface form an angle. This can be fixed when the surgeon removes the extra bone. When the jaw is realigned screws and plates are used to hold the bone to a new position.
Lower jaw(Mandibular Osteotomy)
A lower jaw osteotomy can rectify issues like:-
A receding type of lower jaw.
A protruding type of lower jaw.
The surgeon in this procedure makes cuts behind the molars and down the jawbone so that the front of the jawbone can be moved as a single unit. The jaw can then be moved over to the new position either in a forward or backward manner. The screws and plates will hold the jawbone together as the healing process continues.
Genioplasty or Chin surgery
The process of genioplasty can rectify a small and deficient chin. A small chin has a receded lower jaw. A surgeon can mend the jaw and restructure the chin in the same surgical process.
The initial healing process of the jaw takes about 6 weeks after the surgery but the complete process can take upto 12 weeks.
Benefits of the Orthognathic process
A jaw surgery done by the best dentist in Kannur can rectify issues when the upper and lower jaws cannot line up. A jaw surgery is an option where an orthodontic treatment does not prove to be effective. Some other benefits of orthognathic or corrective jaw surgery include:-
Enhanced outward personal appearance.
Better jaw functionality.
Better processes of inhaling, speech, and chewing.
Improvement of teeth and jaw issues with a combination of braces and some other types of orthodontia.
Complications of the Orthognathic process
Just like any other major-level surgery, there are some common surgical complications like anesthesia risk, bleeding, or infection risk. The specific risk of jaw surgery are:-
Damaged teeth.
Delayed process of bone healing.
Facing issues with the jaw joint.
Not able to open mouth as wide as wanted.
Numbness of cheeks and lower lip.
Recurrence of original bite issue.
Presence of scars.
Risks of the orthognathic process
Some associated risks of the orthognathic process are:-
Loss of blood
Infection
Nerve injury
Fracture of the jaw
Relapse of the jaw to the original position
Issues of bite and pain in the jaw joint
Requirement of additional surgery
Need for root canal therapy on certain teeth
Loss of some portion of the jaw
Conclusion
The most important thing to do for getting jaw surgery is to take a decision. Orthognathic surgery done by a dental surgeon in Kannur is a long and complex process that needs an understanding of it's entire procedure and result. It aids in getting a proper facial appearance and jaw functionality. It is a proper facial rectification procedure that should be ideally done at the ages of 17-21 for boys and 14-16 for girls respectively.
If you face the above-mentioned issues you need to consult a maxillofacial surgeon.
Request an appointment at Apollo Dental Kannur Call 1800 1020 288 to book an appointment OR click on this link
Orthognathic surgery is also called jaw surgery. It is done to align the upper jaw or maxilla and lower jaw or mandible because if they don't line up or get aligned it can affect our ability to eat and speak.
Orthognathic surgery is ideally done by an oral or maxillofacial surgeon.
It is not a simple but complex process because the process initiates with orthodontia, then jaw surgery, and then some time is given for recovery after which more of the orthodontia process is done.
The time taken for surgery on one jaw can take one to two hours of time. And surgery involving many procedures can take as long as 3 to 5 hours.
The recovery time after the orthognathic procedure can take 6 weeks but complete healing can take upto 12 weeks. But the complete process from surgery to braces can take 2 to 3 years.
