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What kind of problems
are corrected with orthognathic surgery? |
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| A: |
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Jaw abnormalities ranging from mild
to severe skeletal underbites, overbites and jaw asymmetries. |
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| Q: |
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What kind of surgery does it involve? |
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| A: |
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Orthognathic surgery is a procedure
done on the upper or lower jaw and is most often performed through
the inside of your mouth. The osteotomies as they are called can involve
moving either the whole upper and lower jaw or parts thereof for correction
of these bone problems. |
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| Q: |
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How long does the procedure take? |
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| A: |
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These operations can take anywhere
from 30 minutes to an hour and a half per jaw. |
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| Q: |
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Does it require a hospitalization
and a general anesthetic? |
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Usually yes. The average stay in the
hospital is from a couple of hours if it is an ambulatory procedure,
to 1-2 days. Recovery time usually requires about a two to seven day
recuperation at home. Most patients can go back to work or school
in 7-10 days. |
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| Q: |
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What are the possible complications
of the surgery? |
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Surgery can have a small risk of infection
(thus antibiotics are prescribed to prevent this). Some of the procedures
involve working near or around the sensory nerves to the gum tissues
and lip, and thus there is a small risk of a numbness or altered sensation
of these tissues after the surgery. This is usually self limiting
and comes back in a few months to a couple of years. In a rare case
it can produce an sensory deficit that can be more pemanent. Bleeding
is always a possibility with any surgery, but the need for blood replacement
is quite rare. Patients are offered the possibility of auto-transfusion
as an insurance policy for peace of mind. You should discuss this
option with your surgeon. Some small degree of tooth movement or bone
relapse is possible but can usually be minimized by close monitoring
and post surgery elastic therapy. |
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| Q: |
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How often is this kind of surgery
performed? |
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| A: |
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Our office specializes in orthognathic
surgery and have been doing this type of surgery for 35 years. We
have a team that is involved with not only doing the necessary preliminary
laboratory and computer evaluations, but also dealing with possible
insurance needs. Many of these problems should be and are covered
by medical health insurance plans. |
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| Q: |
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What kind of medications and diet
will one be placed on after surgery? |
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All our patients are placed on a post
operative regimen of antibiotics for 7-10 days and on analgesics and
anti-inflammatory medications. The first day or so usually requires
a full liquid diet followed by either a pureed diet, and or a mechanical
soft diet. |
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| Q: |
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Will one require orthodontics in conjunction
with jaw surgery? |
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| A: |
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Most cases usually require a period
of pre-surgical orthodontics which should be planned by the orthodontist
in consultation with the surgeon. |
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| Q: |
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Will the jaws have to be immobilized
or wired? |
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Some period of immobilization may
be required, but today many times a technique using special bone fixation
can eliminate this, particularly with upper jaw surgery. |
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| For questions
regarding Temporomandibular Disorder (TMJ
Disease), click here |
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| For questions
regarding Dental Implants, click
here |
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