Orthognathic Surgery
Scarsdale, NY
Orthognathic Surgery provided by Dr. Gary Orentlicher and Dr. Andrew Horowitz in Scarsdale, NY at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery
One of the primary services we offer here at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery is orthognathic (or corrective) jaw surgery. Wondering who performs orthognathic surgery? Our highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Drs. Orentlicher and Horowitz, will assist and guide you through the process before, during, and after surgery.
Our Scarsdale, NY office offers services for our patients' dental and skeletal problems - ranging from minor to significant irregularities.
In the New York City metropolitan area, our practice has been well known for excellence in the treatment of patients with these problems for many decades.
What Is Orthognathic Surgery?
Jaw surgery, also referred to as orthognathic surgery, is a complex dental procedure that corrects problems with the jaw. Common conditions treated include facial imbalances, jaw misalignment, underbite, overbite, and crossbite.
Is Orthognathic Surgery Necessary?
Several complications can arise from having misaligned jaw and dental irregularities.
You may suffer from minor complications such as speaking impediments, eating/chewing troubles, and/or periodontal disease, to more severe issues such as breathing difficulties and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/jaw joint).
Abnormalities in the skeletal structure around the jaw(s) and teeth might also lead to varying levels of disfigurement, which can lead to lower self-esteem.
Our office is dedicated to helping all our clients find normalcy in their lives. Undergoing orthognathic surgery can safely and quickly correct the problems that are rooted in dental and skeletal structure abnormalities.
We Will Help You, Step by Step
The first step for patients who wish to undergo orthognathic surgery is to have an evaluation by our oral and maxillofacial surgeon. You will go through a comprehensive set of tests such as facial measurements, digital x-rays, and dentition model review.
A discussion will then take place with the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to review the findings, treatment options, treatment sequencing, timing, procedures, recovery, and the potential risks and complications in your specific case.
We will discuss each treatment option with you and explain each procedure in a clear and easy to understand manner.
Afterward, we will assist you in getting insurance approval if necessary.
A referral to an orthodontist will then be made to start preoperative orthodontics. Prior to the surgery, most of our patients will be required to wear braces for a period. These braces are necessary to align and level your teeth in each jaw so that after the surgery your teeth and bite are in as ideal a position as possible.
Undergoing Orthognathic Surgery and Recovery
Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will guide you through each step in the process so that you know exactly what to expect before, during, and after the operation.
Orthognathic surgeries are performed in a hospital operating room and require patients to undergo general anesthesia, which means you will be put under throughout the operation.
Jaw realignment surgery can be extensive and may require the use of small metal plates and screws to stabilize your jaws in their proper positions for healing. Small grafts of banked bone may be used to support your jaw(s) as well.
Dissolvable stitches will be placed, usually around the gums, that will completely disappear within a couple of weeks.
Don't worry about scars, as most surgeries are done inside the mouth and most scarring will appear as small white lines around the gums.
Orthognathic Surgery FAQs
A common question we hear from our patients is whether jaw surgery is safe. To say the truth, orthognathic surgery is safe when performed by a qualified maxillofacial or oral surgeon. Other common questions include what age is best for jaw surgery and the time it takes to recover from the surgery. Patients also want to know about the success rate of the surgery.
What Is the Best Age for Jaw Surgery?
It really depends on what type of bite correction needs to be done. Generally speaking, orthodontists typically do not propose jaw surgery until puberty when growth has either slowed down significantly or finalized in adolescents.
The reason is that bones become harder after they are formed completely, making them less pliable for corrective surgeries like orthognathic jaw surgery.
What Is the Success Rate of Orthognathic Surgery?
The overall success rate for orthognathic, also known as jaw alignment surgery, has been found to be anywhere between 90% - 94%. This means that there is only about a 6% -10% risk for failure.
When electing for such treatments verify with your orthodontist these numbers prior because every case might vary. Varying factors include the patient's health condition, and results achieved among others.
Much higher efficacy levels can be expected if coupled with the proper devices used.
How Long Does it Take to Recover From Jaw Surgery?
Skin incisions heal within one to four weeks after the procedure. The recovery period for orthognathic jaw surgery can be clustered in phases.
Within the first 10 days, patients experience swelling that is managed by keeping an upright posture and consuming foods that do not require chewing.
Thereafter, but within two months, you can resume moderate chewing.
Swelling may last up to three months after surgery. During this time, the facial bones are adjusted into their designated place, which can take up to 15 to 20 weeks depending upon the complexity level of operation, and extent of invasiveness involved.
In some cases where a severe discrepancy exists, healing can take longer before the mouth gets fully adjusted. It becomes normal again despite all supports being removed.
That being said, orthognathic surgery before and after results are impressive.
What Are the Side Effects of Jaw Surgery?
Shifting of teeth following the surgery may cause mild speech issues. These require a few weeks of practice in pronouncing words correctly and routinely though they should eventually improve.
Excessive blood loss during operation can occur but if it persists, see the oral surgeon. Other side effects include nausea, prolonged dizziness, and headaches.
What to Eat After Jaw Surgery
Avoid chewy and hard foods since they strain the healing jaw. Consider foods that promote healing such as dairy products, cooked tender meat, soup, noodles, rice, and veggies.
In essence, jaw surgery is crucial to improve dental issues such as crossbite, open and underbites, and cleft lip and palate issues. It will definitely improve your oral health.
How Long Does Orthognathic Surgery Take?
Depending on the type of operation you will have, surgery may take several hours to complete.
Schedule Your Consultation for Oral Surgery in Scarsdale, NY Today!
You can speak to our friendly staff at (914) 768-8220 at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery if you wish to make additional inquiries or schedule a visit. |
