Can Maxillofacial Jaw Surgery Be Done Alone?

By Author: Jaw Surgery.
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There is a reason why orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery go hand in hand. Needless to say, both of these procedures entail treating conditions that affect the mouth.

There is a reason why orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery go hand in hand. Needless to say, both of these procedures entail treating conditions that affect the mouth. However, more often than not, orthodontic treatment comes as a prerequisite before corrective jaw surgery is performed. There are cases whereby, patients are required to acquire orthodontists care in procedures such as braces dental surgery or invisalign cosmetic dentistry before maxillofacial jaw surgery is performed. What is orthodontics? In orthodontics, the teeth are aligned within the dental arch using appliances such as braces or jaw splints. The patient will undergo monthly visits to the orthodontist where the dental braces or any other appliances being used by a patient will be adjusted.

However, there are cases whereby orthodontic treatment alone cannot help correct some jaw problems. It is such situations whereby corrective jaw surgery comes in. There ...
... are cases where the upper and lower jaws grow out of proportion. This means that, the upper and lower dental arches have a poor bite relationship. This problem can be corrected by orthodontic treatment but in severe cases, dental surgery alone cannot straighten the teeth within each arch. Apart from orthodontic braces, the maxillofacial jaw surgery is required to achieve a normal bite in such situations. In literal terms, orthognathic surgery means, straight jaws. This means that further surgery is done to straighten out the jaws even after the orthodontist has already made an effort to co-treat you.

In case you have no idea whether you will need orthognathic surgery or simply orthodontic treatment you may consult a dental specialist. Do not specifically visit an orthodontist or a maxillofacial surgeon if you are not well aware that your problem is under either of these two fields. A maxillofacial surgeon will advice you on maxillofacial jaw surgery, the same way orthodontist will talk to you about orthodontic treatment. However, it could be wiser to strike a balance by visiting a specialist well versed with both fields of orthodontics and corrective jaw surgery.

There could be cases whereby both specialists give different opinions or approaches to treat your condition. At this point, you might be really confused as to whether to consider jaw surgery or orthodontic treatment alone. When this happens, the ball is in your court to research as much as you can about orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery. Make a point of reading books and blogs over the net and if possible get a second opinion from a dental surgeon who works hand in hand with orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons. Ask any questions you may have regarding the treatment they recommend. Find out the cost of jaw surgery and compare it with how much braces cost if indeed it is an effective alternative. Remember that, your decision on whether to undergo corrective jaw surgery or not should not be based on cost alone, analyze a few factors here and there which may in the long run cause you to spend more even if you thought you saved a lot evading the entire procedure.
Resource: http://www.myjawsurgery.com.au/