What is orthognathic surgery?
Orthognathic surgery (Corrective Jaw Surgery) is the use of surgical procedures to correct imbalance in the upper and lower jaws. These procedures may be used to treat an abnormality where the teeth do not fit together properly (malocclusion), to treat airway obstruction when a patient is asleep (obstructive sleep apnea), or to improve the balance and appearance of the face. Often patients who are undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces may find that an imbalance of their jaws make it impossible for their bite to be corrected without repositioning the jaws. Treatment with orthognathic surgery is carried out with combined management between an orthodontist and a surgeon.
What kinds of conditions are treated with orthognathic surgery?
As many as 15% of patients have dental and jaw abnormalities that cannot be corrected with braces alone and may be candidates for orthognathic surgery. Patients undergoing braces with an orthodontist may wish to discuss if they will require orthognathic surgery as part of their treatment.
Additionally, many craniofacial syndromes and conditions such as cleft lip and cleft palate, syndromic craniosynostosis (Apert, Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Muenke, Saethre-Chotzen, etc.), Hemifacial microsomia, Treacher Collins syndrome, Miller syndrome and Nager syndrome cause imbalances of the upper and lower jaws that are improved with orthognathic surgery.
Types of Orthognathic Surgery In Panama
Maxillary osteotomy
Maxillary osteotomy is the surgery that’s done on your upper jaw (maxilla).
Conditions that may call for maxillary osteotomy include:
• an upper jaw that protrudes or recedes significantly
• an open bite, which is when your back teeth (molars) don’t touch when your mouth is closed
• a crossbite, which is when some of your bottom teeth sit outside of your upper teeth when your mouth is closed
• midfacial hyperplasia, which is a condition where growth in the middle portion of your face is reduced
Procedure overview
During this procedure, your surgeon will:
- make an incision in the gums above your upper teeth, allowing them to access the bones of your upper jaw
- cut into the bone of your upper jaw in a way that allows them to move it as a single unit
- move this portion of your upper jaw forward so that it aligns and fits properly with your lower teeth
- place plates or screws to hold the adjusted bone in its new position
- use stitches to close the incision in your gums
Mandibular osteotomy
Mandibular osteotomy refers to surgery that’s performed on your lower jaw (mandible). It’s most often done when your lower jaw protrudes or recedes significantly.
Procedure overview
When you have a mandibular osteotomy, your surgeon will:
- make an incision into your gums on each side of your lower jaw, just behind your molars
- cut the bone of the lower jaw, which allows the surgeon to carefully move it into a new position
- move the lower jawbone either forwards or backwards into a new position
- place plates or screws to hold the adjusted jawbone in its new position
- close the incisions in your gums with stitches
Bimaxillary osteotomy
Bimaxillary osteotomy is the surgery performed on both your upper and your lower jaw. It’s done when a condition affects both jaws.
Procedure overview
The techniques used for this surgery include those that we’ve discussed for the maxillary and mandibular osteotomy procedures.
Because operating on both the upper and lower jaw can be complex, your surgeon may use 3-D modeling software to help plan the surgery.
Chin Surgery (Genioplasty)
Genioplasty is a surgical procedure that focuses on reshaping the chin, particularly to address issues such as a receding chin. In some cases, it may be combined with a mandibular osteotomy to address a lower jaw that has receded.
Overview of the Procedure
During genioplasty, the surgeon will:
Make an incision in the gums around the lower lip.
Remove a portion of the chinbone to facilitate movement.
Carefully reposition the chinbone to its new desired location.
Secure the adjusted bone in place using small plates or screws.
Close the incision with stitches.
TMJ Surgery
If other treatments fail to alleviate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms, your doctor might recommend TMJ surgery. Various types of TMJ surgery include:
Arthrocentesis: A minimally invasive procedure involving the injection of fluid into the TMJ using small needles. This helps lubricate the joint and clear away debris or inflammation byproducts.
Arthroscopy: In this procedure, a thin tube (cannula) is inserted into the joint. The surgeon utilizes a thin scope (arthroscope) and small tools to operate on the TMJ.
Open Joint Surgery: This is the most invasive type of TMJ surgery (arthrotomy). An incision is made in front of the ear, allowing the doctor to replace or remove affected TMJ components.
Do you want to schedule a consultation to find out if you can have Orthognathic Surgery In Panama and see if it is really the ideal treatment for you? Contact us now.
