Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw or chin to correct the bite, breathing or facial balance. Planned virtually with your orthodontist.
Corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, moves the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both, into a better position. It is recommended when the jaws themselves are out of alignment, which braces alone can't fully correct. The goals are a bite that works properly, healthier jaw joints and airway, and a face that looks balanced. For most patients, the change in how they eat, speak and breathe matters as much as the change in how they look.
Who it helps
Jaw surgery is considered for problems such as:
- An underbite, a severe overbite, or an open bite where the front teeth don't meet
- Difficulty chewing, biting or swallowing
- A jaw that is visibly asymmetric or a chin that is far forward or back
- Obstructive sleep apnea linked to jaw position (see sleep apnea surgery)
- Excessive wear of the teeth, or jaw strain related to the bite
Surgery is usually done once growth is complete, typically around 14 to 16 for young women and 17 to 21 for young men, and it is common well into adulthood.
A team plan, mapped in 3D
Jaw surgery is a partnership between your oral and maxillofacial surgeon and your orthodontist. Most patients wear braces or aligners for about 12 to 18 months before surgery, so the teeth are positioned to fit the jaws' new places, and for roughly 6 to 12 months afterward to finish the bite.
At Molly, your surgeon plans the movements using virtual surgical planning: a 3D cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan, digital scans of your teeth and photographs are combined in software, and each jaw movement is simulated to the millimeter. The plan is shared with your orthodontist, and custom surgical splints are made to transfer it accurately to the operating room. You'll see a simulation of the expected result at your planning visit.
Surgery and recovery
Jaw surgery is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia. The bones are reshaped and repositioned through incisions inside the mouth, so there are usually no visible scars, and are held in place with small titanium plates and screws. Most patients stay one or two nights in the hospital.
Recovery takes time. Swelling peaks over the first few days and largely settles over two to three weeks, with subtle swelling fading over several months. You follow a liquid, then soft diet for about six weeks while the bone heals. Most people return to school or desk work in two to four weeks. Numbness of the lips or chin is common at first and usually improves over weeks to months, though some patients notice lasting changes in sensation, and your surgeon will discuss this with you.
Your surgeon calls you after discharge, sees you regularly through healing, and the 24/7 surgeon line is there any night. Because jaw surgery is often medically necessary, it is billed to medical insurance, and we handle the pre-authorization with you.
