Jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, is surgery to fix your upper jaw (maxilla) and/or your lower jaw (mandible) when they don’t line up. Orthognathic (“ortho nathic”) jaw surgery isn’t a single event. It’s a process that starts with orthodontia, then jaw surgery and several months of recovery before having more orthodontia.
Jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, is surgery that helps align your upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible). If your jaws don’t line up, it can affect your bite and make it hard for you to eat and speak.
Orthognathic (“ortho nathic”) surgery isn’t a single event. It’s a process that includes orthodontic treatment to prepare your teeth for your jaw surgery, the surgery itself, recovering from surgery and then more orthodontic treatment for up to a year after your surgery. All told, the jaw surgery process can take between two and three years.
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Generally speaking, jaw bone problems are either present at birth (congenital) or caused later in life by injuries or other medical conditions that affect your jaw.
Congenital jaw problems can be individual issues like having an overbite or can be related to an overarching medical condition like Treacher Collins syndrome. Here are some other examples of congenital jaw problems.
You should have a clear idea of what jaw surgery can accomplish and what’s involved when you have jaw surgery. You might have a before-and-after image of your face in mind. If you do, share that image with your healthcare providers. Tell them what you expect jaw surgery to accomplish. Everyone’s jaw problems are different, though. Your healthcare providers will explain what they recommend to solve your specific issues and what you can expect.
Understanding your personal goals is one of the factors healthcare providers consider when recommending jaw surgery. They also consider your overall health and the specific health concern your jaw problem causes.
Jaw surgery isn’t a one-and-done event, though. It’s a process that can take years to complete. As you consider jaw surgery, ask questions about the process, from pre-surgery orthodontia to recovery to post-surgery orthodontia. Understanding what jaw surgery involves will help you prepare for what will be a long-term commitment.
There’s a lot of pre-work that goes into jaw surgery. Your healthcare provider needs certain information to plan your surgery. Here are some tests and steps they might take to obtain that information:
Yes. Your orthodontist will prepare your mouth and teeth for your new jaw. To do that, they might remove teeth and may put braces on other teeth. If you do need braces, you’ll probably wear them for a year before your surgery, during your surgery and for several months after your surgery.
Yes. Your healthcare provider will likely restrict food intake to liquid foods you can eat without chewing. Before surgery, consider stocking up on soups, milk, nutrition drinks and fruits and cooked vegetables you can liquefy using a blender.
You’ll receive general anesthesia before your surgery. Ask your healthcare provider about preparing for general anesthesia.
Jaw surgery corrects problems that make your jaws stick out too much or too little, making your facial features appear unbalanced. There are three types of jaw surgery:
You may need to stay in the hospital for one to four days after your surgery so your healthcare providers can monitor your progress. Here’s what you might experience while you’re in the hospital and throughout your recovery:
Jaw surgery can solve problems caused when your upper and lower jaws don’t line up. Jaw surgery is an option when orthodontic treatment hasn’t helped your problem.
Like any major surgery, there are several risks involved in jaw surgery. Some risks are common surgical risks, such as anesthesia risks, risk of bleeding or infection. Other risks are more specific to jaw surgery. Those risks include:
Every person’s recovery is different, but most people recover at home for several weeks before returning to work or school. You may be able to do light exercise while you recover, like taking brief walks. Talk to your healthcare provider before adding any exercise to your daily routine. Healing takes time. It might be a year before your jaw heals completely.
You’ll see your healthcare provider about eight weeks after surgery so they can remove your mouth splint and your stitches.
You should go to the emergency room if you:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
If you’re thinking about jaw surgery, the most important step is to be sure of your decision. Jaw surgery is a major surgery that can disrupt your life for several weeks and months. You owe it to yourself to understand how jaw surgery will affect your life. You also should understand what you can expect from your jaw surgery. Talk to your healthcare providers about your options and expectations. They’ll understand you’re making a big decision and will be glad to answer your questions. Just as important, they’ll give you time to be sure jaw surgery is right for you.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/03/2021.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy