Orthognathic Surgery (jaw realignment)

You might need orthognathic surgery if you have a jaw alignment that can't be resolved with orthodontic treatment alone. Jaw surgery can help to:

• Make biting and chewing easier and improve chewing function
• Minimize excessive wear and breakdown of teeth due to an abnormal bite
• Correct and improve the fit of teeth when biting together or jaw closure issues (for example, when the molars touch but the front teeth don't. This is called an anterior open bite)
• Correct facial imbalance, such as facial asymmetry, mismatch of size and proportion of upper and lower jaws and a recessive or prominent chin
• Improve the ability of the lips to close fully
• Repair long term effects of facial injury with permanent bite disturbance
• Provide relief for obstructive sleep apnoea

In most cases, patients have to wear braces to align and straighten their teeth before surgery. The braces are kept on during surgery and  during the recovery period until healing and dental alignment is complete.

Our Orthognathic Surgeon works with a team of orthodontists (specialist dentists) to determine individual treatment plans for each patient.