Is Corrective Lower Jaw Surgery Right For Me?
Irregular alignment between the upper and lower jawbones can be corrected through lower jaw surgery. This procedure, also known as mandibular osteotomy surgery, is often recommended when non-surgical treatments have failed or when orthodontics alone are not enough.
Dr. Lifferth at Park City Oral Surgery in Park City, UT, is an esteemed doctor with a long track record of delivering results. He can help determine if surgical intervention is necessary and make sure that any jaw pain is reduced.
Jaw surgery can significantly change your profile.
What Can Lower Jaw Surgery Correct?
Lower jaw surgery is typically recommended to correct severe conditions such as:
- Open bite: Open bites are characterized by a gap between the upper and lower front teeth that remains even when you bite down. This misalignment is usually caused by the back teeth coming into contact before the front teeth are able to.
- Protruding lower jaw: This condition occurs when the lower jaw juts out past the upper jaw. Over time, it can increase strain on the joints in your jaw.
- Receding lower jaw: Also known as retrogenia, this occurs when the chin recedes backward toward the neck. The condition is sometimes described as having a weak chin.
- TMJ disorder: When either of the joints in the jaw is out of alignment, it can throw off your entire bite. Lower jaw surgery is usually recommended as a solution for extreme cases of TMJ disorder.
Are You a Candidate?
Surgical intervention is not always necessary or even recommended. It is typically only suggested if nonsurgical options such as orthodontics or oral appliances have failed to correct the problem. Some of the most common symptoms that may indicate a need for surgery include:
- Severe problems chewing
- Jaw pain
- Popping or clicking when opening or closing the mouth
- Protruding lower jaw
- Bruxism or tooth grinding
- Poor bite alignment
Before we schedule surgery, Dr. Lifferth will sit down with you to determine whether the procedure is the best fit for you.
Treatment Timeline for Lower Jaw Surgery
During your initial consultation, the doctor will use advanced technology such as our 3-D imaging system to visualize your jaw and evaluate the severity of your misalignment. Please write down any questions you have and bring them with you to this appointment.
You will also have the opportunity to decide where you would like your procedure performed at this time. Our patients have the option of undergoing surgery at our private, state-of-the-art surgical facility, which provides many of the same features found at a hospital but with additional privacy. If you prefer to undergo your procedure at a hospital, our clinic can provide care at Park City Medical Center.
Your surgery will be performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will make incisions in the jawbone behind your molars in order to move the lower jaw into its ideal position. Then, a combination of bone plates, screws, wires, and rubber bands will be used to secure your jawbone. The screws will fuse with the bone tissue over time as you heal.
After your appointment, you should rest for the first few days after surgery while avoiding strenuous activity. Initial jawbone healing will take several weeks, but complete recovery can take up to three months. Dr. Lifferth will provide you with recovery guidelines.
Contact Our Clinic Today
Dr. Lifferth is a board-certified physician and strives to keep up-to-date with the latest techniques in order to provide the most effective treatment possible. If you are ready to speak with the doctor, contact our office online or call (435) 222-0450 to schedule an appointment.