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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – To those who have trouble working up the will to have a cavity filled or a root canal performed, it can be a nightmare when a dentist recommends an appointment with an orthognathic surgeon. The complaint that would warrant such a suggestion: jawline asymmetry.
Surely, things are fine just the way they are
Jawline asymmetry is fairly common, a condition that plenty of people, from kids in school to Hollywood actors, live with (names like Shannen Doherty often come up). Not everyone who suffers from jawline asymmetry has a problem serious enough to require intervention. In specific cases, though, it is known to cause health issues, and a serious drop in the quality of life experienced.
What about one’s quality of life?
To those who have grown up with a misalignment, accommodating its needs is usually second nature. Absent a frame of reference, it tends to be hard for them to point to how the condition might make life harder. It is only after surgical correction that they usually begin to see how much better life can be.
Those who accept jaw surgery often report delighted surprise at how much less work chewing and swallowing are when the teeth line up correctly. Enunciating correctly becomes far less trouble, as does speaking without fear of spray. Breathing becomes effortless, and the bonus, at the end of it all, is that one simply looks better.
These aren’t minor improvements. They make life much better. It can feel like a new lease of life.
What does orthognathic surgery involve?
Corrective jaw surgery is performed by an OMS (an oral and maxillofacial surgeon). While the surgical process by itself can be painstaking work that lasts hours, the entire treatment course can take months. It starts with pre-surgical orthodontics. The surgeon makes precise measurements of the jaws and the teeth, and prescribes anticipatory corrections through the use of braces. The doctor may even need to remove the wisdom teeth to make room for the teeth as they align correctly. This phase of corrective jawline treatment can take a year or longer.
The aim of such correction is to bring the teeth in line, in anticipation of the way that they will need to fit together after surgery. Prior to surgery, though, orthodontic correction can make for uncomfortable malocclusion. Once alignment completes, the doctor will set a date for the orthognathic procedure.
Surgery is often performed on under full sedation. For surgery to the lower jaw, the procedure usually requires detachment of the jawbone, and re-setting with screws, plates and even wire. For the upper jaw, bone may be added or worn away in different places. Post surgery, patients require a special diet to avoid straining the jaw as it heals. In some cases, where far-reaching changes are made, the jaws may need to be wired shut for 5 to 7 weeks for thorough healing.
Are the benefits worth the costs involved?
While the costs of the surgery involved can vary greatly from one case to another and also from one doctor to another, it can help to consult websites such as Cost Helper for a ballpark figure. Depending on the kind of intervention needed, surgery can come in anywhere from $20,000 to twice that sum. According to a leading Denver cosmetic surgery specialist, it is always a good idea for patients to ask in advance about additional costs such as those for braces. In many cases, teaching hospitals can offer much lower prices.
Jaw surgery tips
Jaw surgery at the hands of a qualified professional can be life-altering. It’s important for patients to find a well-respected practitioner, though.
As with other forms of surgical intervention, research is key. It’s important to find a doctor that you are comfortable with. With jaw surgery, the overall comfort levels finally achieved is key. When you heal, you want to feel more natural and normal. Achieving such results, though, requires being able to work with a doctor who makes you feel comfortable.
Finding it easy to make minor complaints can spell the difference between a perfect fit and an unsatisfactory one. Not only should the doctor be professional, he should be patient and thoroughly involved in your subjective satisfaction. A doctor who puts you at your ease through the procedure can bring about results far superior than an unapproachable doctor.
Randolph C. Robinson, MD, DDS, is board-certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) and the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOM). Dr. Robinson’s practice, Robinson Cosmetic Surgery, is located in Lonetree, CO, a southern suburb of Denver, CO. Dr. Robinson specializes in cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery on and around the neck face to include rhinoplasty, rhytidectomy, browplasty, blepharoplasty, and oral/maxillofacial surgery. Cosmetic consultations are provided free of charge.Robinson Cosmetic Surgery is the private Denver cosmetic surgery and oral surgery practice for Randolph C. Robinson, MD, DDS, a Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and Board-Certified by American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. As a highly respected cosmetic surgeon and oral/maxillofacial surgeon in Denver, Colorado, Dr. Robinson seeks to care for his patients with skill, kindness, and integrity.
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