If you live with misaligned teeth or jaws, then you understand better than most that misalignment affects much more than the appearance of your smile. Misaligned teeth and jaws can contribute to tooth decay and cause headaches, bad breath from improper oral hygiene, and damage to other teeth. Moreover, jaws that do not fit properly can make eating, talking, and smiling difficult and painful. Corrective jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a type of treatment used to correct jaws that do not fit properly.
Why Corrective Jaw Surgery?
The idea of jaw surgery sometimes alarms people who are unfamiliar with orthognathic surgery. But the reality is that the procedure is not new and has been performed successfully for many years. Here at Henseler & Kocian Orthodontics, it is our mission to take care of our patients’ specific needs while providing top tier orthodontic care. If you have severe jaw problems or are looking for a jaw surgeon in Woodbury, MN, our highly trained staff will make sure that you feel safe and comfortable before heading off to surgery.
In most orthodontic cases, patients benefit from traditional orthodontic treatment, such as braces and Invisalign. In more severe cases, corrective jaw surgery may be necessary. Our orthodontists in Woodbury and Stillwater can perform a thorough examination and will discuss the benefits of all treatment options to help decide what is best for you. Whereas orthodontic treatment can successfully align the teeth, jaw surgery helps align the jaws themselves. Here are some of the many conditions that jaw surgery can treat:
Jaw surgery begins with a thorough examination, using diagnostic images and advanced software-based planning, by our highly trained doctors Dr. Steve Henseler and Dr. Paul Kocian. Based on our findings, we will work with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to develop a step-by-step treatment plan. Once your treatment plan is finalized, you will schedule your jaw surgery with a maxillofacial surgeon at a hospital.
Before your surgery is underway, you will be administered anesthesia to ensure that you remain comfortable and relaxed while the surgeon begins the procedure. After the procedure, you may experience minor swelling and pain, both of which can typically be controlled with over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Post-surgery, once the jaws have healed, our orthodontists will detail your smile and bite with either braces or aligners to ensure you gain the maximum benefit of aligned jaws and teeth.
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