Table of Contents
When is a jaw removed?
A mandibulectomy is a surgery to remove all or part of your jaw (mandible). You may have a mandibulectomy if you have a tumor involving your jaw.
What can jaw surgery do?
What is jaw (orthognathic) surgery? Jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, is surgery that helps align your upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible). If your jaws don’t line up, it can affect your bite and make it hard for you to eat and speak.
How is a Mandibulectomy done?
Segmental mandibulectomy: The entire jaw bone is removed and then reconstructed. A bone from another part of your body (leg, back, arm or hip) is used to make a new jaw. This is called a “free flap.” Skin grafts and muscle flaps may also be used.
Who needs jaw surgery?
Jaw growth sometimes occurs at differing rates for the upper and lower jaws, resulting in misaligned jaws that make eating difficult. If you have trouble biting, chewing, or swallowing, you may need orthognathic surgery. 3. You have problems with snoring, sleeping, or breathing.
Why would you need jaw surgery?
Correct facial imbalance (asymmetry), such as small chins, underbites, overbites and crossbites. Improve the ability of the lips to fully close comfortably. Relieve pain caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and other jaw problems. Repair facial injury or birth defects.
Can a jaw bone be replaced?
Patients who lose a part of their jaw—whether from injury, infection, disease, or as a side effect of cancer treatment—can have the missing jawbone replaced through reconstruction.
What are the different types of jaw surgery?
Genioplasty: Sometimes jaw surgery involves orthognathic surgery plus genioplasty, such as if your chin is too far back (receding). This type of surgery moves the chin bone to a better position and may or may not require a chin implant that provides a more balanced, natural appearance.
What is the name of the surgery that corrects a crooked jaw?
Jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic (or-thog-NATH-ik) surgery, corrects irregularities of the jaw bones and realigns the jaws and teeth to improve the way they work. Making these corrections may also improve your facial appearance.
What is jaw surgery and how does it work?
It’s also referred to as orthognathic surgery. It’s performed by oral or maxillofacial surgeons working along with an orthodontist most of the time. There are several reasons why jaw surgery may be recommended. For example, jaw surgery could adjust a misaligned bite due to abnormal jaw growth or repair an injury.
How can jaw surgery improve my facial appearance?
Making these corrections may also improve your facial appearance. Jaw surgery may be a corrective option if you have jaw problems that can’t be resolved with orthodontics alone. In most cases, you also have braces on your teeth before surgery and during recovery after surgery until healing and alignment are complete.