Who Needs Orthognathic Surgery?
Wondering if you might need jaw surgery? Here are the conditions that typically require orthognathic surgery.
Orthognathic surgery is for people whose jaw problems are severe enough that they cannot be corrected with braces or orthodontics alone. You may need jaw surgery if you have:
- Functional problems:
- Difficulty chewing or biting food
- Speech difficulties caused by jaw position
- Chronic jaw pain or TMJ dysfunction
- Sleep apnea caused by a small or recessed jaw
- Mouth breathing due to jaw structure
- Difficulty swallowing
- Bite problems (malocclusion):
- Severe overbite (upper teeth overlap lower teeth too much)
- Underbite (lower teeth sit in front of upper teeth)
- Open bite (front teeth do not meet when biting)
- Crossbite (upper teeth sit inside lower teeth)
- Misaligned dental midline
- Facial concerns:
- Facial asymmetry (one side looks different from the other)
- Recessed chin or chin that sticks out too far
- Gummy smile (too much gum showing)
- Long face syndrome
- Sleep apnea related to jaw position
Who Is a Good Candidate?
- Good candidates for jaw surgery are:
- Adults whose jaw growth is complete (usually age 16+ for females, 18+ for males)
- People with good general health
- Non-smokers or those willing to quit
- People with realistic expectations about recovery
Clinical Guidance
You may need orthognathic surgery if you have a severe bite problem, difficulty chewing or speaking, jaw pain, sleep apnea, or facial asymmetry that braces alone cannot fix. A consultation with an oral surgeon and orthodontist will determine if surgery is right for you.