Cost of Corrective Jaw Surgery

Regular visits to the dentist, flossing, and general oral care are all essential for maintaining the health of your mouth and also for maintaining overall general health. In some cases however, no amount of diligent oral care will be able to correct various jaw and oral related problems. In the cases where oral care cannot solve an overbite or jaw abnormality, surgery and/or orthodontic care is required. Cost of Corrective Jaw Surgery

Jaw abnormalities may include: excess growth of the jaw, asymmetrical jaws, and deficient jaws; all generally referring to an abnormality related to the skeletal structure of the jaw. In patients that have a jaw abnormality their routine activities such as sleeping, chewing, talking and any other subconscious routine activities are negatively impacted and disrupted. As a result, treatment is prescribed in various forms to correct the problem.

The first method of treatment is most often the employment of orthodontics. Orthodontics is the least invasive and has a high success rate of correction with patients having a jaw abnormality. In most cases a regime of 1-2 years of wearing orthodontics is needed to adequately correct the problem. Dental braces (metal wires) interact with brackets in order to direct the teeth into the desired position. By using braces on a patient's teeth, the growth of the jaw can be modified and controlled.

After a series of adjustments while wearing orthodontics, patients will be assessed and given removable bite plates, retainers, mouth guards or headgear in order to maintain the placement of the teeth and jaw. These particular mouth appliances are worn generally for 6 months to a year following the removal of braces. It is up to the physician's discretion as to the length of time necessary to wear the pieces depending on the severity of the case or the success of the orthodontic regiment.

In the cases where orthodontic care was not satisfactory in the reshaping of the jaw and teeth, jaw surgery is necessary to correct the abnormalities.
Physicians are careful in their approach to what is an invasive surgery of the teeth and jaw. Planning sessions are carried out prior to surgery and extensive discussions about what to expect, preparation, and recovery are all explored before undertaking the surgery. Bite impressions are taken and often study models are created based on the patient in order to properly map the surgical procedure and allow the physician to 'perform the surgery' on the test model before performing on the patient.
Due to technological developments, many oral physicians employ the use of computerized digital technology to develop a plan for each patient; a treatment plan specifically tailored to the patient's needs and unique situation. Titanium plates and miniature screws are used in the surgical process in order to enhance the strength and reliability of the treatment.

A patient can expect to be put under a general anesthetic during surgery. The actual jaw of the patient is fractured and reset in the desired position in order to correct the abnormalities. Generally the procedure lasts 3 to 6 hours and patients typically will be discharged within a week.

Prescriptions of painkillers, antibiotics and mouthwashes are given to the patient following surgery and detailed descriptions of restrictions and recovery expectations will be laid out by the oral physician. Dental Implants

Though seemingly a daunting undertaking, jaw corrective surgery with the use of orthodontics has a high success rate of correction in patients with jaw abnormalities. Routines that were difficult prior to surgery will become easier, anaesthetics have improved, and the quality of life for the patient is enhanced as a result of undertaking the oral procedure. Each case is individual and unique to the patient and treated as such by the physician. For some patients it may be possible to correct the problem without surgery and in others, surgery is necessary. Whatever the case may be, physicians will guide patients through the process and provide all necessary information to make an informed and educated decision regarding the options, risks and benefits of various oral treatments. a Jaw Surgery