Orthognathic surgeryIt is a professional surgical program for those with airway stenosis, jawbone abnormalities or dental occlusion problems that cannot be treated simply with orthodontic treatment. It can not only improve facial appearance, but also enhance occlusal function and healthy quality of life.
Fenghua United ClinicTake you to have a deep understanding of the principles, advantages and complete process of orthognathic surgery, to help you assess your needs and give you a better sense of direction when considering whether to undergo surgery!
What is orthognathic surgery?
Orthognathic surgery is a corrective surgery for abnormal position of the upper and lower jaws, aiming to improve the jaw structure (such as airway obstruction) and tooth bite function.
The principle of the operation is to adjust the position of the jaw through surgical means to align the upper and lower jaws, thereby solving breathing and pronunciation problems caused by skeletal asymmetry, malocclusion, or jaw abnormalities.
The main functions of orthognathic surgery include:
- Improve bite function and jaw relationship: Restore normal occlusion and improve chewing and pronunciation abilities.
- Improve facial appearance: Adjust the facial bone proportions to enhance facial symmetry and contour beauty.
- Solving health problems: Reduce malocclusion, airway obstruction, bruxism or other related symptoms caused by jaw bone abnormalities.
This is a comprehensive treatment that combines beauty and health, especially suitable for people with jawbone problems.
Advantages and risks of orthognathic surgery
Advantages of orthognathic surgery
- Improved appearance：Orthognathic surgery can effectively adjust the proportion and symmetry of facial bones and correct abnormalities caused by jaw position.Receding chin, underbite or crooked faceAnd other issues, make the face more coordinated and beautiful.
- Improved functionality：The surgery can improve chewing function and tooth occlusion, and solve the problems caused by jaw bone abnormalities.Difficulty eating, teeth grinding, oral health problems, and can even reduce snoring or sleep apnea caused by airway obstruction.
- Enhance psychological confidence: Improvements in appearance often lead to psychological improvements, allowing patients to face life and interpersonal interactions with greater confidence, thereby improving their overall quality of life.
Risks of orthognathic surgery
- Wound infection: The incidence rate is about 4.25%. If it occurs, most of them can be solved by taking antibiotics, but a small number of cases require outpatient surgery for incision and drainage.
- Removing the bone screws and plates: If the bone screw becomes loose, exposed, or becomes inflamed and infected, it needs to be removed. This is related to the patient's lifestyle, with an incidence rate of approximately 3.5%~18.9%. People who smoke and have poor oral hygiene tend to have a higher incidence rate.
- Lower lip numbness：It is more common to occur in the short term after surgery, and most of them will gradually recover during long-term follow-up without affecting the quality of life. Espeland et al. reported one year of postoperative follow-up, with mild dysesthesia at 16.21 TP3T, moderate dysesthesia at 4.11 TP3T, and severe dysesthesia at 1.61 TP3T.
- Localized gingival recession：According to the report of Kramer et al., the local gingival recession rate is 0.8%.
- Poor healing of bone fragments requiring refixation：It usually occurs in patients with severe bruxism and those who have had wound inflammation and infection. According to the report of de Mol van Otterloo et al., the incidence rate is 0.2%.
- Postoperative malocclusion requiring re-fixation: Due to muscle involvement, teeth grinding, loose bone screws and bone plates, etc., the postoperative occlusion is not as expected and surgical re-fixation is required. The incidence rate is about 0.2%~2%. But ifOrthognathic surgery sequelaeThe situation is minor and there is a chance that it can be adjusted back through postoperative orthodontic correction, and it does not necessarily require re-fixation through surgery.
Although orthognathic surgery has obvious advantages, patients still need to fully understand the relevant risks before evaluating the surgery and entrust treatment to an experienced professional medical team.
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Is orthognathic surgery necessary? Who is suitable for orthognathic surgery?
Whether orthognathic surgery is necessary depends on the severity of the patient's jaw abnormality and its impact on their life, appearance and health.
In certain specific cases, orthognathic surgery is not only an option for aesthetic improvement, but also an important way to solve functional problems.
The following are suitable candidates for orthognathic surgery:
- Severe malocclusion: People with problems such as overbite (protruding lower jaw), short upper jaw (recessed chin), or open bite, which affect eating, pronunciation or oral health.
- People with facial bone asymmetry：For those with facial asymmetry and unbalanced upper and lower jaw proportions, which lead to an unsightly face shape and cannot be improved simply through orthodontic treatment.
- Patients with respiratory arrest: Abnormal jaw structure may lead to airway narrowing, which in turn may cause sleep apnea. Orthognathic surgery can significantly improve the width of the airway, improve sleep quality and health status by adjusting the position of the jaw.
- People with limited chewing and pronunciation functionsOrthognathic surgery can improve daily life functions for people who have difficulty chewing and unclear pronunciation due to jaw bone abnormalities.
- Those who are under psychological pressure or have lost self-confidence: For patients who feel inferior or have psychological pressure due to jawbone problems that affect their appearance, surgery can solve both functional and psychological problems.
Orthognathic surgery is particularly suitable for patients with the above conditions, especially those with sleep apnea. This type of surgery may directly improve their quality of life and health risks. It is recommended that a detailed evaluation be conducted by a physician at Fenghua Joint Clinic to confirm whether the surgery is suitable and necessary.
Orthognathic surgery process
Preoperative preparation
- Initial consultation and assessment
Seek professional dentists and maxillofacial surgeons to evaluate and understand jawbone structural problems and the need for surgery, and develop a customized treatment plan.
Detailed inspection
- 3D Tomography: Understand the jaw structure and tooth occlusion.
- Tooth model making：Confirm the occlusal relationship and analyze the occlusal situation
- Blood tests: Make sure you are in good health to undergo surgery.
- Surgical design and planning: The doctor will use a computer to assist in the surgical planning process, calculate the range and angle of jaw movement, and explain the details and goals of the surgery to the patient.
Surgical Procedure
- Anesthesia and preparation: Before the operation begins, general anesthesia will be administered to ensure that the patient is painless and stable throughout the operation.
- Jawbone cutting and adjustment: The doctor will make the incision from inside the mouth to avoid leaving external scars. According to the preoperative plan, the jawbone is cut and adjusted to align the upper and lower jaws. Bone screws are used to secure the jawbone and provide stability.
- Suture and End: After the operation, the incision is sutured and a drainage tube is installed. The whole process takes about4 to 6 hours.
Postoperative Recovery
- Hospitalization observation: You need to stay in the hospital for one night for observation after the operation. The medical team will observe swelling, bleeding, heartbeat, blood oxygen, breathing and other vital signs. The patient needs to wear a drainage tube for one night and it will be removed before discharge.
- Dietary precautions:1 week after surgeryOnly pure liquid food (such as soup and juice) can be consumed to avoid wound inflammation, infection and poor healing. Postoperative2 weeksYou can start eating soft solid foods (such as porridge, steamed eggs) and avoid chewing hard foods at first.
- Postoperative Care: Take medicine and care as instructed by the doctor on time to avoid strenuous exercise or external impact, so as not to affect the recovery of the jawbone after surgery. Follow your doctor's instructions to return for regular checkups to check on your wound, bite, and jawbone healing.
- Correction during recovery period: It is recommended to have orthodontic treatment after surgery to ensure the stability of the postoperative occlusion. The duration of the correction treatment needs to be evaluated by a professional orthodontist.
Through thorough preparation, a professional surgical procedure, and careful postoperative care, orthognathic surgery can effectively address jaw problems and provide significant improvements in function and appearance.
Orthognathic surgery Dcard, PTT hot discussion topics
Is orthognathic surgery painful?
Many people worry about the surgical process and the pain after surgery.The whole operation will be performed under general anesthesia,thereforeThe patient will not feel pain.
The degree of pain after surgery varies from person to person. The doctor will prescribe painkillers to relieve the discomfort, and most people can get relief from painkillers.
In addition, swelling and mild discomfort are common after surgery and will gradually improve in about one to two weeks.
Does orthognathic surgery require hospitalization?
Orthognathic surgeryNeed to stay in hospital for 1 nightIf there is no problem, you can be discharged from the hospital the next day. The purpose of staying in the hospital for observation is to ensure that the patient's postoperative recovery is stable.
During the stay in the hospital, the medical team will closely monitor vital signs such as wounds and breathing, and help patients adapt to postoperative life.
Is orthognathic surgery a major surgery?
Orthognathic surgeryClassified as major maxillofacial surgery, involves cutting, adjusting and fixing the jawbone, so it needs to be performed by an experienced maxillofacial surgeon.
Although the operation is somewhat complex, modern medical technology and equipment have greatly improved safety and success rates. Patients only need to choose a professional team to receive treatment with confidence.
What are the side effects of orthognathic surgery?
Common side effects of orthognathic surgery include:
- Temporary numbness: The surgery may affect the facial nerve. Some patients may experience temporary numbness of the chin or lips after the surgery. Most people can recover within a few months, but it may take longer to recover due to age and personal constitution.
- Minor jaw displacement: Further orthodontic adjustments to the bite may be required after surgery.
- Swelling and discomfort: This is a normal recovery phenomenon and usually improves within 1 to 2 weeks. The physician will arrange regular follow-up visits after surgery to track the patient's condition and address any abnormalities in a timely manner.
How long does it take to return to normal life after orthognathic surgery?
Complete recovery period after surgeryIt takes at least 6 to 12 months, but most patients2 to 4 weeksYou can resume your daily life, such as work and study.
It is necessary to avoid strenuous exercise and external impact, and follow the doctor's instructions on diet and care. If further tooth correction is required, the recovery period may be slightly longer, but it will not affect daily functions.
Topics related to orthognathic surgery are widely discussed on Dcard and PTT. Interested patients are advised to refer to and share their experiences, but they should also consult professional doctors to obtain accurate information.
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Find out now how Fung Wah United ClinicOrthognathic surgery, completely solve your jaw and facial problems!
Successful cases of orthognathic surgery for apnea
Orthognathic surgery has been shown to be an effective treatment for sleep apnea (OSA).
The patient was suffering from sleep apnea and had severe daytime sleepiness and nocturnal snoring, as well as poor overall mental state.
After a sleep examination, he was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (AHI=36.5). CT scan also showed that his airway was narrowed, mainly because of the severe retraction of the mandible, which compressed the posterior pharyngeal wall.
Taking into account his obvious symptoms of sleep apnea (sleepiness, snoring), the cause (narrow bones, lack of space), and his expectations for appearance and occlusion, we designed a maxillo-mandibular advancement (MMA) surgery for him to widen his airway and improve his appearance and occlusion.
The sleep test result six months after the operation was AHI=0.9, which has returned to normal. The symptoms of snoring and sleepiness disappeared, and she also liked the way she looked after the operation more.
Why is Fenghua Clinic the first choice for orthognathic surgery for apnea?
Fenghua Joint Clinic is well-known for its professional team, advanced equipment and considerate service in the field of orthognathic surgery for apnea, providing patients with a full range of treatment options.
Here are three key advantages of choosing Fenghua Clinic:
Medical qualifications and rich experience
Fenghua Joint Clinic's professional team is led by maxillofacial surgeons and dentists with renowned medical backgrounds both at home and abroad, and has accumulated a large number of successful cases. Especially for patients with sleep apnea, doctors can accurately diagnose and develop customized surgical plans to ensure safety and effectiveness.
- The doctor has extensive experience in two-jaw surgery and is familiar with handling various complex cases.
- He has participated in international academic exchanges many times and mastered the latest orthognathic surgery techniques.
Advanced equipment and cutting-edge technology
The clinic is equipped with advanced 3D computed tomography (CBCT) and digital planning technology, which can accurately analyze the patient's jawbone structure and respiratory condition, and conduct digital preoperative surgical planning to improve surgical accuracy and effectively reduce surgical risks.
- Digital planning technology is used to reduce postoperative swelling and pain.
- High-quality titanium plates are used to fix the jawbone, improving stability and speeding up recovery.
- The operating theatre meets international standards and provides a sterile and safe environment.
Good doctor-patient communication and considerate service
Fenghua Joint Clinic attaches great importance to the communication between doctors and patients. Before the operation, the surgical process, risks and expected results will be explained in detail so that patients can clearly understand every step.
- Provide exclusive consultation services to answer all the patient's questions.
- From preoperative preparation to postoperative recovery, the medical team accompanies the patient throughout the process and provides careful care.
- The clinic also has a comprehensive post-operative tracking system to ensure patients’ smooth recovery.
Choosing Fenghua United Clinic to perform orthognathic surgery to improve sleep apnea not only allows you to enjoy the skills and experience of professional doctors, but also provides you with considerate full-process services and international-level medical equipment support. It is the best choice to achieve improved health and quality of life.
