Do you experience difficulty in chewing food?
Do you suffer from sleep apnea?
Do you have a speech problem?
Are you bothered by chronic joint pain, jaw pain, or headaches?
If you have been experiencing any of the above symptoms, you need to visit an orthodontist immediately! It is highly likely that you may have a malocclusion or misaligned jaw.
Malocclusion of teeth
Simply said, the malocclusion of teeth means that the teeth in your mouth are not aligned properly. A person who has malocclusion of teeth usually has unevenly arranged, irregular, crooked teeth, or a misaligned jaw.
It is commonly known as a
- bad bite
- open bite
- crossbite
- underbite
- overbite
Causes of Malocclusion
- Hereditary or genetic factors
- Birth defect
- Injury – accidental or sports
- Childhood habits – Thumb sucking, prolonged use of pacifiers and bottle feeders
- Improper dental care.
How can you treat Malocclusion?
The treatment for malocclusion depends on the type of malocclusion. Different types of treatment include:
- Braces to amend the position of the teeth
- Plates for jaw bone stability
- Capping, bonding or reshaping teeth
- Teeth removal to repair overcrowding
- Orthognathic Surgery to shorten or restructure the jaw.
Orthognathic Surgery
Dentists usually recommend orthognathic surgery if it is not possible to solve your jaw problems with the help of only orthodontics.
It involves the alteration of the jaws using a surgical procedure to modify the jaw position and configuration for proper jaw alignment.
Process of Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is usually done by a maxillofacial surgeon and orthodontist who work in tandem to perform this procedure.
Step 1: Development of Treatment plan:
A series of tests including x-rays, CT scans, and pictures are used to create a model of your jaw to work out the treatment plan for reshaping your jaw.
Step 2: Pre-surgery Procedure:
Orthognathic surgery is conducted under general anaesthesia
- A routine preoperative blood examination is undertaken.
- You may need to reach the hospital approximately 6-12 hours prior to the surgery depending on your general health.
Step 3: Surgery Process:
- Surgery is performed inside the mouth, eliminating the need for external incisions.
- The surgeon may cut through the jaw bone to correct its position.
- Jaw surgery may be undertaken on the lower jaw, upper jaw, chin, or any combination of these.
- Upper Jaw: It is called Maxillary Osteotomy. The surgeons will cut the bone above your teeth to facilitate the movement of the upper jaw. This procedure helps to correct a crossbite, open bite and receded or protruding upper jaw.
- Lower Jaw: A Mandibular Osteotomy involves cutting behind the molars so that the jaw can move to a new position for better movement. It is used to correct a receded or protruded lower jaw.
- Chin: A Genioplasty is conducted to amend a deficient chin.
Step 4: Recovery Stage:
- Recovery time is approximately two to four weeks.
- Painkillers and antibiotics may be prescribed for the first week to aid in the healing process.
- Patients are required to have a diet consisting of soft foods during the first few days after the surgery.
Apart from solving problems related to chewing, talking and sleeping, corrective jaw surgery is your ultimate step towards building on your lost self-esteem and confidence. Contact our Angel Orthodontics team today and deal with those issues!