What Facial Deformities Can Jaw Surgery Correct?
Orthognathic surgery can correct a wide range of facial skeletal deformities. Here is a comprehensive overview.
Orthognathic surgery treats deformities of the facial skeleton β problems with the size, shape, and positioning of the jaw bones. Here are the main categories:
- Congenital deformities (present at birth):
- Cleft lip and palate (jaw components)
- Hemifacial microsomia (underdeveloped one side of the face)
- Pierre Robin sequence (small lower jaw)
- Treacher Collins syndrome (underdeveloped cheekbones and jaw)
- Craniofacial syndromes affecting jaw growth
- Developmental deformities:
- Mandibular deficiency (recessed lower jaw)
- Mandibular excess (protruding lower jaw)
- Maxillary deficiency (recessed midface)
- Maxillary excess (gummy smile, long face)
- Facial asymmetry (uneven growth)
- Open bite (jaws do not meet)
- Crossbite, overbite, underbite
- Acquired deformities:
- Facial trauma that healed improperly
- TMJ-related bone changes
- Tumor removal requiring jaw reconstruction
- Post-cancer treatment changes
Common Syndromes and Conditions
- Long face syndrome β vertically long midface with open bite
- Short face syndrome β vertically short lower face
- Asymmetric mandible β one side longer than the other
- Prognathism β protruding jaw
- Retrognathism β recessed jaw
Clinical Guidance
Orthognathic surgery can correct a wide variety of facial skeletal deformities β from common conditions like recessed or protruding jaws to rare congenital syndromes. The key is that the problem must be in the bone, not just the teeth or soft tissue.