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Determining if you are a Candidate for Orthognathic Surgery

added on: January 15, 2015

Choosing to have orthognathic surgery, a surgery that corrects a misaligned jaw or a misalignment of the teeth with the jaw, is a big decision. Whether you choose orthognathic surgery for cosmetic reasons or to improve your health, it’s important to determine if you’re a good candidate for the surgery before you pursue it.

Benefits of Orthognathic Surgery

You may receive several cosmetic and health benefits from undergoing orthognathic surgery. Orthognathic surgery corrects a misaligned jaw, this procedure can improve the appearance of your smile, boosting confidence and self-esteem. Crooked and misaligned teeth are often straightened with orthodontics prior to surgery.
Orthognathic surgery can also improve functional problems associated with biting, swallowing, chewing and speech. It may reduce or eliminate jaw pain, breathing problems, an open bite or a protruding jaw.

Potential Risks

As with any type of surgery, orthognathic surgery does carry potential risks. These may include bleeding, infection, permanent numbness, or tingling of your teeth, cheeks and lips, bone splints, tooth damage and jaw joint problems. After surgery, you may experience pain, swelling, bleeding, jaw stiffness, and nasal congestion. There is a small chance the jaw can move back to its original position after surgery, though this chance is small.

Emotional Impacts

While straight teeth and aesthetically pleasing smile can boost self-esteem and confidence, some people can experience a period of depression after surgery. This period of post-surgical depression is a common side effect that occurs after cosmetic surgeries. Being mentally prepared for surgery will help you cope through the process and lead to a positive recovery.

Determining if You’re a Candidate

If you think you’re a good candidate for orthognathic surgery, you should schedule a consultation with a qualified oral surgeon. Dr. Dachowski and Dr. Sock utilize advanced technology that renders three-dimensional models to show you exactly how your surgery will be approached. Comprehensive x-rays and video imaging can show you how your bite will be improved and even give you an idea of how you’ll look after surgery.
If you have any questions about orthognathic surgery or would like to make an appointment, call (267) 247-5489.

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