Did you know that 5% of Americans have major dentofacial anomalies requiring orthognathic surgery? Dental professionals use corrective jaw surgery to fix a wide range of problems with the way the jaw looks and moves. It’s not only for the use of cosmetic surgery, but it can improve the structure of your face.
When your teeth and jaws don’t line up, you need jaw surgery to get them back into place. This helps with your vocal and oral health.
Are you needing surgery on your jaw but need to learn more about corrective jaw surgery cost first? Then, let’s read more about it here.
Who Needs Corrective Jaw Surgery?
If your teeth and jaws aren’t in the right place, your bite can be bad for your health. The following are a handful of warning clues that you may require jaw surgery:
- swallowing and feeding difficulties
- Cannot bite completely through fruit
- Cannot easily bring the lips together
- Jutting jaw
- Jaw-related headaches
- Lower jaw recedes
- Too much tooth wear
- Jaw ache
- Using your mouth to inhale and exhale
Birth abnormalities and face injury are two more significant reasons for orthognathic jaw surgery.
If there are problems with the bones in the face, orthognathic surgery can move them into place. One of these problems is obstructive sleep apnea. Jaw movement can assist the patient in breathing by opening the airway.
Corrective jaw surgery can help treat severe facial inconsistencies such as lip inadequacy or unattractive smiles.
How Corrective Jaw Surgery Works
You can have surgery on the lower, the upper, or both jaws simultaneously. It all depends on the specific jaw ailment.
A team of doctors will evaluate your situation and devise a surgical strategy. This sort of procedure requires many specialists. Oral surgeons, orthodontists, conventional dentists, and much more.
The procedure entails repositioning the jawbones. Bones are made shorter or lengthened and moved to give your jaws and teeth a more natural placement. Your particular face shape and jaw condition will dictate the repositioning of the jawbones.
Luckily, today’s modern technology and imaging software allow you to see the final results even before the surgery begins. Then, your surgeon will examine you to decide if you are a candidate and what has to be done.
You’ll also know how long you’ll need to recuperate from surgery. You’ll need to take time off for healing time. This means you will also be put on a particular diet until you can chew normally again.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
The whole procedure takes about two years, from beginning to end.
The first phase is six to twelve months of pre-operative orthodontics to prepare the jaw and teeth for surgery. Following surgery, allow three months of recovery time, followed by three to twelve months of post-surgical orthodontics.
How Long Does Surgery Take?
The length of the surgery might range from one and a half to six hours. This, of course, depends on the number of surgical procedures needed. In addition, there might be various smaller different sorts of operations performed within the surgery.
Is it a Painful Experience?
Postoperative pain is substantial, although adequately managed by potent analgesics; nevertheless, analgesics are rarely required after the first ten days following surgery.
What Are My Physical Restrictions?
Depending on the surgery performed, each patient has a unique set of constraints. However, there are minimal limits after six months post-surgery, and the bones will fully develop by the two-year point. Therefore, the majority of people have no limits after six months.
Benefits of Corrective Jaw Surgery
During corrective surgery, your teeth and jaws are moved into a structured and healthy position. This helps with everyday tasks like chewing, talking, and, believe it or not, breathing.
Corrective jaw surgery can be used to treat a wide range of problems. We have discussed this above. Oral surgeons conduct corrective jaw surgery to improve a patient’s bite and jaw function; however, it can enhance a person’s appearance.
Corrective Jaw Surgery Risks
As with any surgery, there are risks involved. Infection and bleeding or the necessity for revision surgery are possible risks.
Patients commonly experience tingling or numbness in various parts of their face and lips following surgery. The discomfort typically diminishes as the swelling decreases. Very rarely, a permanent alteration in feeling occurs.
Corrective Jaw Surgery Cost
When establishing the cost of your surgery, you will need to consider the costs charged by the hospital, the doctor, the surgeon, and the anesthetic provider.
Preliminary consultations, the surgeon’s fee, the facility charge, and materials, as well as follow-up treatment, are all included in the approximate $20,000-$40,000 cost of corrective jaw surgery. But, again, this approximate cost is for people without health insurance.
You may require orthodontic treatment before the operation, which would increase the cost of the procedure.
Does Health Insurance Help Cover Costs?
Corrective jaw surgery is considered a medical operation rather than a cosmetic one since it prevents future dental or medical complications.
The operation is covered in part by many health insurance companies. It is a good idea to call your insurance company to find out precisely what is and isn’t covered.
Most insurance companies also require pre-approval before covering one of these treatments.
Restore Your Smile and Have Peace of Mind!
Deciding to have corrective jaw surgery is one of the most challenging decisions a person must make.
If your dentist, orthodontist, or surgeon has advised corrective jaw surgery, you must make an educated decision. People who are fully informed about their treatments are happier about the outcome.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to conduct your research and rely on solid, trustworthy sources to gather as much information as possible. In particular, make sure about the all-inclusive corrective jaw surgery cost from your dentist, orthodontist, and surgeon.
Corrective jaw surgery, like all operations, has risks and benefits that must be weighed.
Do you want to know if corrective jaw surgery is correct for you? Then, please get in touch with us right away to organize a consultation!
