Can Corrective Jaw Surgery Have Health Benefits?
The alignment of the upper and lower jaws doesn’t just play a role in the integrity of your bite — a significant imbalance can also affect the facial muscles, nerves, joints, and all interconnected systems to create many different types of dysfunction. While it’s true that corrective jaw surgery can be utilized to enhance your appearance and facial proportions, this maxillofacial procedure is most often performed for medical reasons, including to alleviate difficulty while chewing, to help improve sleep apnea, and to address the symptoms of TMJ disorder. In turn, patients who experience jaw dysfunction can reap a number of health benefits from jaw surgery, such as:
- Reduced wear and tear on the teeth caused by jaw misalignment
- Improved ability to speak and chew
- Relief from symptoms caused by issues with the jaw (temporomandibular) joints, which commonly include facial pain, headaches, and ringing in the ears, among other concerns
- Better respiratory function for patients who struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- More restful night’s sleep for patients with obstructive sleep apnea
- Fewer instances, if any, of involuntary mouth breathing
Ultimately, your primary doctor or craniofacial plastic surgeon can evaluate the state of your jaw and give you insight into the outcomes possible with maxillofacial surgery. Results vary from patient to patient depending on the unique symptoms each person experiences; however, corrective jaw surgery can generally improve the physical and physiological health of those who are good candidates for the procedure.
Jaw surgery is among the most complex maxillofacial reconstructive procedures available and requires the skill and experience of a board-certified craniofacial plastic surgeon to achieve the best possible outcome. Don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Eric Payne at The Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Center of Houston today to set up a consultation and find out how orthognathic surgery can help treat your concerns.
