What is orthognathic surgery of the jaw and face?

Maxillofacial surgery is performed to correct functional problems and facial appearance, and it covers a wide range of skeletal and dental irregularities, both partial and general, such as the asymmetry of the jaw and face.

The main goal of treatment is to improve form and function through the correction of the jaw and facial skeleton, which has a direct effect on skeletal movements.

The anatomy of the jaw and face and even the teeth have a direct effect on the quality of life. Sometimes skeletal and dental irregularities can draw an inappropriate structure and cause a lot of discomfort and functional problems for the patient. Headache, jaw pain, breathing problems, and even problems with the masticatory and musculoskeletal system are among the things that this skeletal jaw problem causes.

By performing maxillofacial surgery, if necessary, existing abnormalities in the chewing, breathing and even speaking systems can be improved. In addition, it will have a significant effect on the beauty of a person’s face.

Who needs orthognathic surgery?

In this article, we list a few essential candidates for orthognathic surgery so that you can easily determine whether you need orthognathic surgery or not.

It should be noted that these listed cases may not include all jaw and facial disorders that require surgery.

In case of any doubt, you can consult your specialist dentist in Canada about the disease and finally make the right decision.

• The presence of pain in the temporomandibular joint
• Excessive wear of teeth
• Congenital defects at birth
• The distance between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed, which is called open bite.
• Protruding jaw
• Unbalanced facial appearance from the front
• Damage to the face and jaws for any reason
• Your jaw has gone down and your chin is small with a defect in the size of your chin
• Chronic mouth breathing
• Breathing problems during sleep, including snoring and sleep apnea

There are other cases where the patient is informed about the decision for jaw and face surgery by the doctor’s diagnosis and conducting the necessary investigations.

Chin and lower jaw reduction surgery

What are the methods of orthognathic surgery?

Orthognathic surgery (surgery to correct maxillofacial relations) may take from two to several hours depending on the extent of jaw problems and the type of operation.

For lower jaw surgery, depending on the type of operation and the patient’s needs, the jaw can be moved back and forth.

In upper jaw surgery, the jaw can be moved forward or backward or even moved up and down. In some cases, it may be necessary to separate the jaws into several parts. In this case, the extra bone is removed to achieve relative alignment and stability.

Other facial bones that help with balance may need to be resized, either strengthened or reduced in size.

In most surgeries, incisions are made inside the mouth and the scar is not visible. If an external cut is needed in surgery, the surgeon tries to hide the cut line in the natural folds of the skin with the necessary skill and precision.

After the operation, your appearance may be swollen and you should be prepared for the surprise of others, including your family and friends. But don’t worry, they will soon get used to your new face.

Care and post-surgery visits that are determined for you by your doctor and maxillofacial specialist should be done carefully.

During the treatment, when you are waiting for a complete recovery, you must observe oral and dental hygiene in the best possible way.

Chin and lower jaw reduction surgery

What is the relationship between orthodontics and orthognathic surgery?

In most cases, orthognathic surgery is combined with orthodontics so that the teeth are in their proper position after the operation. In most cases, before surgery, the teeth should be placed in the right position before the operation. This part of the treatment is performed by an orthodontic specialist and in this way the patient is prepared for surgery.

If the patient has an imbalance in jaw relations, along with skeletal disorders, orthognathic surgery along with orthodontics is recommended and very acceptable results will be obtained with this operation.

The period of orthodontics before the operation may last from 6 to 18 months depending on the type of abnormality, the amount and type of dental movements and the diagnosis of the orthodontic specialist.

In orthognathic surgery, the jaw bone that has a problem is cut and moved. In a properly aligned jaw, the bone is secured with screws or plates. In some patients, it may be necessary to remove the bone to change the shape of the jaw correctly, and sometimes it may be added to the jaw bone, which is usually taken from the hip bone or rib and transplanted.

After the surgery, the period of time the patient has to be observed in the hospital varies between two days. Resting at home after the hospital will allow the swelling to disappear completely after the surgery and the bones to reach their intended original position.

However, achieving the desired result depends on following all the health and care tips, as well as following the doctor’s recommendations and the patient’s efforts after surgery.

Once orthognathic surgery is complete, it usually takes 3 to 6 weeks for the jaw to fully heal. After the length of treatment and partial recovery, orthodontics is performed after the operation.

From the time orthodontics is done in the last stage, the necessary time lasts about 12 to 14 months, which varies in different patients.

What changes does the patient feel after orthognathic surgery? And what care does it need?

After the orthognathic operation, the person will feel numb and sleepy, as well as swelling and pain. Some parts of the face may be numb.

The day after the operation, soft and gentle elastic braces are placed for the upper and lower teeth so that the teeth are in their proper position and do not move.

Some time after the surgery, a swollen face and bruises under the chin or neck will be observed for about a week, which will gradually disappear.

After the operation, to prevent infection, it is necessary to keep your mouth clean and observe oral and dental hygiene carefully. With the training of the doctor, you will be sure of the correctness of the work.

During the first days of the diet, filtered high-calorie liquids are recommended, and after a while, you can consume a small amount of food, and the nutritionist will give you the necessary recommendations about a soft and nutritious diet. It is better to use a blender to prepare soft foods.

How does orthognathic surgery affect the quality of life of patients?

• When a person performs orthognathic surgery, skeletal relationships are corrected by correcting jaw relationships.
• This action helps to prevent excessive wear of the teeth.
• Reduces jaw discomfort and TMJ-related headaches.
• Improves chewing, swallowing and speech obstruction.
• Improves breathing problems such as sleep apnea (snoring).
• Correcting the problems caused by facial injuries by creating a suitable and harmonious view that is created in the facial structure.

Complications of orthognathic surgery (jaw and face)

In order to minimize surgical complications, the maxillofacial surgeon must pay attention to many details that require excellent knowledge of facial anatomy, and if he does not have sufficient knowledge of the patient’s facial anatomy and performs a poor surgery, it will lead to unforeseen complications that It may occur in any orthognathic surgery.

Among these injuries, we can mention nerve damage, misplaced fractures, bleeding, and misdiagnosis problems in positioning the defective bone. An expert orthognathic surgeon minimizes the risk of such complications with proper planning before the operation and a high understanding of the specific anatomy of the patient’s face.

Currently, the use of virtual surgery planning software provides additional tools for the surgeon to better understand the important details of surgery.

It is important to understand that this surgery requires a lot of patience and the patient should know that before and after orthodontic surgery, more than one operation may be needed for complete recovery.