For patients with congenital abnormalities or who have suffered facial trauma, jaw surgery could be vital for healthy function. In other cases, you may be referred to a surgeon who can help you with symptoms related to TMJ dysfunction or misalignment. The exact reasons patients need jaw surgery vary, but seeking treatment has numerous benefits.
Common Causes for Jaw Surgery
Reasons for jaw surgery can vary significantly, but one of the most common tends to be trauma, including:
- Injuries from an accident
- Impact injuries, such as in sports
- Falls
- Broken jaw with complicated fractures or breaks
A serious impact on the face can not only knock out teeth, it could fracture the jaw and make future restoration procedures difficult. With the jaw bone being the critical foundation of teeth roots, stability of the bone area is essential.
Jaw surgery may be required to restore the jaw and remove infection, a common occurrence when a serious abscess has reached the jaw bone itself. In all these cases, the goal is to save the jaw and prevent future deterioration.
Additionally, jaw surgery can be necessary for the installation of dental implants, which help preserve the bone and prevent future bone loss from missing teeth.
Finally, jaw surgery is commonly performed to align the jawbone properly, such as for individuals who previously suffered from a cleft palate.
Benefits of Jaw Surgery
Jaw surgery has many potential benefits. The advantages tend to be unique to each patient based on their underlying issue and symptoms. Possible benefits of treatment include:
- Improved eating and digestion
- Greater facial symmetry
- Corrected issues with swallowing
- Improved speech
- Reduced strain on teeth
- Corrected bite
- Enhanced jaw alignment
- Pain relief from conditions such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
- Improved lip closure
- Relief from sleep apnea
Discuss Jaw Surgery With Dr. Jeffery James, MD, DDS, FAACS
Dr. James is an accomplished and highly experienced surgeon specializing in craniofacial procedures. He also stands as the Peltier Endowed Chairman and Head of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Science Center in New Orleans.
He is double board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial cosmetic surgery, making him a true expert when it comes to any procedure related to the jaw.
You can request a consultation appointment by calling our office at 504-619-8700 or submitting an online form.