How Can Oral Surgery Improve the Alignment Of Teeth?

Misaligned teeth can make it challenging for you to brush your teeth properly or chew well. Furthermore, misaligned teeth significantly affect your perfect smile. Therefore, it is essential to go to the dentist near you for teeth straightening. The dentist will inform you that there are various teeth straightening options, including braces, Invisalign and orthodontic headgear. Besides these options, the dentist can recommend visiting an oral surgeon near you for surgery. Oral surgery is usually recommended to enhance the shape of your face and jawline. But did you know that oral surgery can also improve the alignment of your teeth? This piece will explain this in detail. So, keep on reading to find out.

What Is Oral Surgery?

Oral surgery focused on the alignment of teeth is known as orthognathic or teeth straightening surgery. The oral surgeon in Cupertino will recommend this surgery if your bad bite results from severely misaligned jaws. After the procedure, you will notice that your speech has improved, and you can chew better than before.

However, you should not that undergoing orthognathic surgery does not imply that you won’t need braces or aligners. Oral surgery is utilized as one of the treatments in completing your teeth straightening procedure for a revitalized smile.

Oral surgery involves aligning the jaw and teeth, and this is a procedure that can take two to three years. You will need to visit the oral surgeon near you for a consultation so they can create a treatment plan for you. The treatment plan includes one type of teeth straightening jaw surgery.

Types Of Teeth Straightening Surgery

Upper jaw orthognathic surgery– this surgery is suitable for patients with bite issues brought about by the placement of the upper jaw. These issues include open bite, crossbite, overjet and overbite. Genetics and congenital disabilities can lead to bite problems, but so is blunt trauma or accident. When this happens, you should visit an emergency oral surgeon as soon as possible. This is to prevent the situation from worsening.

During upper jaw orthognathic surgery, the oral surgeon makes an incision bone above your teeth so that the whole top jaw can move as one unit. The entire top jaw and the upper teeth are moved until they align properly with the lower teeth.

After jaw realignment, the oral surgeon uses screws and plates to hold the bone in its new position to ensure that the teeth or jaw don’t shift to its earlier position.

Lower jaw orthognathic surgery– this surgery, also known as mandibular osteotomy, can correct protruding lower jaw or receding lower jaw. During the procedure, the surgeon makes incisions behind the molars and down the jawbone to ensure the front of the jaw moves as one unit. The surgeon then moves the jaw either backward or forward to ensure it aligns well with the lower teeth.

Chin surgery or genioplasty- genioplasty can correct a deficient chin which a severely receded lower jaw may accompany. The oral surgeon uses this surgery to restructure the chin and alter the jaw. This is done by cutting a piece of the chin bone located on the front of the jaw, moving it forward, and holding it in the desired position through screws and plates.

So why are these procedures done?

• To repair facial injuries.
• To make chewing and biting easier.
• To correct speech and swallowing problems.
• To correct facial imbalances such as overbites, cross bites and underbites.
• Relieve pain caused by TMJ disorder.

What Are the Risks of Oral Surgery?

• Jaw fracture.
• Infection.
• Nerve injury.
• Need for more surgery.
• Problems with jaw joint pain and bite fit.
• The jaw moves to its original position.

What Are the Aftercare Tips After Oral Surgery

• Avoid strenuous activity.
• Take medications to cope with the pain and prevent infections.
• Practice proper oral hygiene.
• Avoid tobacco.

What Are the Benefits of Oral Surgery?

After oral surgery, your quality of life and overall health improves significantly. Here are some other benefits of undergoing oral surgery:

• Enhanced facial appearance.
• Speech improvement.
• Improved self-esteem.
• Expanded diet options.

Teeth straightening surgery can restore your perfect smile and enable you to enjoy various foods without worrying about chewing. If your teeth prevent you from having a confident smile, visit Cupertino Family Dental. Our dental professional will examine your teeth, jaw and other facial structures and determine the most appropriate surgery.