How Long Does It Take To Heal From Jaw Surgery

Jaw surgery corrects facial imbalances and allows the jaw bones to fit together correctly. If the jaw is not lined up properly, information technology may atomic number 82 to hurting when chewing and difficulty speaking or even animate. Others may just not like their jaw'south appearance, causing self-esteem problems. Jaw surgery, which tin bring relief and a better quality of life, may involve the superlative or bottom jaw, or both.

Laura Porter / Verywell

What Is Jaw Surgery?

The jaw has many parts and functions:

• The upper jaw (maxilla) gives shape to the middle of the face and forms a boundary between the roof of the oral cavity and the olfactory organ expanse.
• The lower jaw (mandible) is the os that moves as your mouth opens and closes to speak or swallow. It supports your bottom teeth and your natural language. It provides shape to your mentum and lower face.

When consulting with a specialist for jaw surgery, you may hear some medical terms. They may include orthognathic, which refers to the causes and handling of bones of the jaw that are non in proper position (aligned). Osteotomy, another term y'all may hear, refers to surgery on the jaw bones.

In that location are three types of osteotomy.

• Maxillary (meridian function of the jaw) osteotomy: The surgeon cuts the os in a higher place the teeth and moves the jaw and the upper teeth forward until they fit appropriately with the lower teeth.
• Mandibular (lesser part of the jaw) osteotomy: The surgeon cuts behind the molars and downward the jawbone and moves the jaw either backward or forward to a new position.
• Bimaxillary (both parts of the jaw) osteotomy: The surgeon volition perform 2 procedures to correct more complex facial issues that involve both the upper and lower jaw.

The type of osteotomy you may demand depends on many aspects of your jaw area, including how well your teeth meet when you lot close your rima oris, how far forwards your jaw protrudes, or whether your jaw is besides far dorsum.

• 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 ameliorate position and may or may not require a chin implant that provides a more balanced, natural appearance.
• Temporomandibular joint surgery: Surgery on the jaw joints range from minimally invasive outpatient surgeries to more than complicated open-articulation surgeries that require a infirmary stay.
• Cleft palate repair: Children, adolescents, and adults may need this type of surgery, depending on the severity of their condition. For some adolescents and adults, specialists recommend correcting the jaw issues before other surgeries that are considered more than cosmetic. Correcting a crevice palate can entail multiple operations in the jaw, lips, and nose area.

Who Performs Jaw Surgery?

In about cases, a dental professional called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon volition perform your surgery. These dental specialists are trained to diagnose and treat whatever atmospheric condition related to the caput, neck, face up, and jaws or the natural language, cheeks, gums and lips (soft tissues of the rima oris).

Earlier jaw surgery, you volition probably take seen an orthodontist for a consultation or tried braces to set up the problem. The surgeon will usually work closely with your orthodontist, from the beginning of planning to the last stage of the surgery.

Earlier surgery, an orthodontist may try to use braces to move your teeth into a position that will assistance your teeth fit together more comfortably after your surgery has been completed.

If you undergo this process, be patient. Although it may feel similar your teeth are not fitting together properly, the teeth will fit together (into occlusion) more efficiently for eating and condolement subsequently the surgery. For some people, braces also will be needed after the surgery to go along moving the teeth.

Purpose of Jaw Surgery

Jaw surgery may exist considered if y'all experience whatever of the following:

• Trouble or discomfort endmost your lips
• Front end and back teeth practice not touch properly and tin't exist corrected by an orthodontist
• Trouble speaking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain when chewing or bitter
• Teeth are wearing down too quickly or too much
• Pain in the joint on either side of your jaw (temporomandibular joint)
• Your confront appears unbalanced
• Your jaw is restricting your airway, causing a slumber disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea
• A condition chosen a cleft palate (when a baby is born with an opening or split in the roof of the mouth)
• An accident or trauma to your jaw

Contraindications

Unless it is an emergency, most jaw surgery is delayed until afterwards 14 to 16 years old for females or 17 to 21 years one-time for males. At that point, growth of the jaw is usually finished.

Younger children who take a jaw problem that makes it difficult for them to eat or speak may as well be evaluated past a pediatric craniomaxillofacial specialist.

Potential Risks

Equally with whatsoever surgery, in that location are risks to jaw surgery, including the following:

• Blood loss
• Nervus injury
• Infection
• Jaw fracture
• Need for root canal on certain teeth
• Loss of a portion of the jaw
• Jaw position relapse

How to Ready

Jaw surgery tin take identify in a infirmary, in an ambulatory surgical center, or in an oral and maxillofacial surgeon's office.

When speaking with your healthcare provider before surgery, exist sure to talk over any issue that could affect surgery, such equally medicines that yous take regularly and any allergies that you have. Ask the surgeon if you should accept your regular medicines before surgery.

Stock upwardly on any liquids you lot may demand, such every bit nutritional drinks and soup too as foods that are easily pureed. Make certain that y'all have admission to a blender. In addition, adapt for a friend or family member to give you lot a ride abode and stay for a bit after surgery.

What to Look on the 24-hour interval of Surgery

The surgery can take from one to several hours to complete and will generally be performed under full general anesthesia. In some cases, yet, mandibular osteotomies may be performed with Four sedation and local anesthesia. During the surgery, the surgeon makes incisions inside the mouth to add, remove, or shape the bone depending upon what jaw modifications are needed.

Sometimes pocket-size incisions are required outside the mouth, in which case the surgeon will exist very conscientious to minimize any scarring. Inside the oral cavity, very pocket-size screws, wires, special rubber bands, or surgical plates may exist used to hold the jawbone together after the procedure.

Any additional bone that is needed can be taken from other places on the body, such equally the hip, leg, or rib.

Recovery

Jaw surgery past an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon is unremarkably safe, and infections after surgery are relatively rare. To prevent infection during the functioning, you will probably receive intravenous antibiotics. Your surgeon volition probably prescribe oral antibiotics for near vii to 10 days following surgery.

Depending upon the surgeon, a mild pain reliever may be prescribed forth with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine such every bit ibuprofen. For upper jaw surgery, some healthcare providers will too prescribe a nasal decongestant to decrease swelling in the nasal area.

Although the number of render appointments vary depending upon the surgeon, yous should exist prepared to return to the office for a post-surgery bank check at one week, four weeks, six weeks, and 12 weeks to catch any possible complications and to ensure that the jaw and seize with teeth are stable.

Healing

Healing from jaw surgery can take anywhere from six weeks to 12 weeks, depending upon the procedure. Later on healing, you may need to return to the orthodontist to ensure that your acme and bottom teeth fit together properly or to discuss braces that will move the teeth to their last position.

Most patients tin wait to return to school or work inside 10-14 days subsequently jaw surgery. Facial swelling will probably be considerably reduced by three weeks after surgery. However, complete jaw healing can take between nine and 12 months.

It is important to eat and drink after surgery to continue the healing process. The healthcare provider will probably recommend a liquid diet or a pureed diet for about four to six weeks.

You tin puree your food in a blender, food processor, or nutrient factory. If you desire easier preparation, you can use already prepared adult nutritional drinks or baby foods and add more flavor by seasoning.

Nutritional supplement drinks will provide additional calories and vitamins. The healthcare provider may ask you to rinse your mouth with water subsequently eating to make sure the surgical expanse stays make clean.

Immediately call your healthcare provider if you take any astringent symptoms such as increased swelling two to three days after surgery, difficulty endmost your eyes, problem urinating, or fever. Call 911 if you are experiencing trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, or severe pain, which are medical emergencies.

A Discussion From Verywell

Relieving pain, improving spoken language and eating, and increasing self-esteem are just a few of the benefits of jaw surgery. Having a treatment team that includes an orthodontist and an oral surgeon will give you access to knowledgeable experts to help you navigate through your medical decisions. Knowing the risks and how to gear up for surgery will aid to reduce stress and improve your recovery.

Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/jaw-surgery-5082432

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