Worried about an underbite, overbite, small chin, or recently experienced a trauma that affected your face?
While it’s often considered a cosmetic procedure, correct jaw surgery also offers a number of health benefits that can improve a patient’s quality of life.
Patients might need corrective jaw surgery if they:
- Were born with a birth defect
- Have chronic jaw or jaw joint pain
- Have a tumor or pathology that affects the jaw
- Breathe from the mouth involuntarily
- Can’t bring their lips together without straining
- Have a receding lower jaw or chin
- Experienced a trauma or injury to the jaw or space
- Have an open bite or protruding jaw
Still on the fence about corrective jaw alignment surgery? Keep reading to discover five benefits that can address health concerns and your facial appearance.
After recognizing these benefits, you might find corrective jaw therapy is exactly what you need to improve your quality of life.
The 5 Benefits of Corrective Jaw Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery can restore your jaws and teeth so they’re properly placed. This will improve your jaw’s functionality. The main goal of corrective surgery is to fix a misaligned bite.
However, corrective jaw surgery can also improve your appearance, speech, and self-esteem. Here are a few other ways jaw surgery can improve your overall well being.
1. Pain Relief
One of the main reasons people elect to receive jaw alignment surgery is to relieve jaw pain.
Patients with a dentofacial deformity experience temporomandibular joint derangements (TMJ). Misaligned jaws add unnecessary strain and stress on these joints. In addition to causing pain, a reduced range of motion, and frequent popping, the misalignment can also lead to TMJ disorder.
Corrective jaw surgery will realign your jaw so it’s properly placed.
Once your jaw is placed properly, you’ll start to notice a decrease in strain and pain.
2. A Better Bite
When the jaw isn’t aligned, it can make it difficult for you to chew properly. Without optimal bite function, you might find it challenging to eat certain foods. By repositioning your teeth, jaw alignment surgery also provides you with a healthier bite.
Proper biting and chewing will also make it easier for you to swallow your food.
When choosing is easier, you’ll also find it easier to enjoy certain foods. When these foods aren’t chewed properly, it can lead to digestion issues.
A better bite can make food more enjoyable—and solve any stomach problems you might experience, too.
You can consult with an Oral Surgeon to discover other methods for improving your bite.
3. Reduced Wear
Realigning your jaw also helps to give your teeth a break. When your teeth aren’t aligned, they have to work double-time to function properly. This can sometimes lead to unnecessary wear and tear.
Exerting too much pressure on your teeth can lead to damage, decay, and even tooth loss after a time.
Corrective jaw surgery will help evenly spread out the amount of pressure you give each bite. When the pressure is balanced throughout your teeth, the amount of tooth wear you experience decreases.
This can help reduce unnecessary wear and tear to keep your teeth healthy.
4. Proper Pronunciation
Your jaw’s alignment can also impact your speech and pronunciation. When your jaw and teeth aren’t aligned, you might find it more difficult to shape certain words.
When you’re unable to pronounce words correctly, it can sometimes become embarrassing and hurt your self-esteem.
With jaw alignment surgery, you can improve your speech and bolster your self-confidence.
5. Sleep Soundly
A misaligned jaw can cause you to develop sleep apnea. When your upper airway is obstructed, it can make breathing at night difficult. Without enough sleep, you might experience:
- Mood problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Heart problems (heart attack, failure, stroke)
- Obesity
Undergoing jaw alignment surgery by visiting an oral surgeon Phoenix residents trust can improve your breathing. As a result, you can avoid sleep apnea and get the proper amount of sleep each night.
When you get a full night’s rest, you’ll also improve your overall health by recharging your body for the day ahead.
What to Expect
Before your jaw alignment surgery, an oral surgeon will review their surgical plans as well as pre-op instructions for you to follow.
For example, you’ll have specific food and beverage restrictions on the day of your surgery.
Your oral surgeon will also review your options for anesthesia.
This review is a great time for you to discuss any concerns with your surgeon. Make sure to ask any lingering questions as well. This will ease your fears so you have peace of mind on the day of your surgery.
During the week of your surgery, make sure to eat a balanced diet. It’s also important to remain hydrated and exercise. These steps will ensure you’re maintaining the best possible health.
After your surgery, your oral surgeon might instruct you to make temporary changes to your lifestyle. For example, you’ll need to avoid strenuous physical activity and tobacco products while you recover.
Your doctor will also provide you with a list of medications to take following your surgery to minimize your pain.
Make sure to drink plenty of water as well. Staying hydrated, taking your medication, and icing your jaw will help minimize swelling.
Following the procedure, you might also experience:
- Limited jaw movement
- Numbness
- Minor bleeding
These side effects are often temporary and normal.
Give your jaw the chance to heal. If these side effects persist, make sure to contact your doctor.
Take a Bite Out Of This: 5 Benefits of Corrective Jaw Surgery
After your corrective jaw surgery, there’s one more benefit you might notice: increased self-esteem. When your appearance improves and you notice the five benefits mentioned above, you’ll feel better about yourself. As a result, jaw alignment surgery can improve your quality of life.
Explore the Lifestyle section of the website for more ways to give your overall quality of life a boost!
