Jaw misalignments can occur for many reasons, from being born with an overbite, underbite, or mal-occlusion to being involved in an accident that forces the jaw into an unnatural position. In some cases, this condition may cause frustrating side effects, and a dentist may suggest jaw surgery. The following guide highlights some of the benefits of this procedure, so you can move forward with scheduling an appointment with the oral surgeon with peace of mind.

3 Reasons Oral Surgeons Recommend Jaw Surgery

1. Severe Pain

The jaw joint or TMJ function is determined by the position of your teeth ie. your bite.  On occasion without proper dental and skeletal alignment, the facial muscles undergo stress or strain. If you have a severe mal-occlusion, the upper and lower jaw muscles may become fatigued, leading to soreness, achiness, tightness, and tension. An oral surgeon can restore the jaw’s alignment, alleviating these uncomfortable symptoms.

2. Speech Issues

If your jaw is crooked or smaller than it should be, you may develop a speech impediment. Proper enunciation is determined by how and where the tongue falls in the mouth and against your teeth.

If this space is compromised due to jaw issues, it can lead to problems, like slurring, whistling, or a tongue thrust.  An oral surgeon will help you address unwanted speech problems by properly aligning the jaw or creating more space in the mouth for the tongue to move correctly.

3. Difficulty Eating

Teeth can be moved only so much within the confines of the jaw bones.  If you have a skeletal (jaw bone) discrepancy, the teeth cannot be moved into proper alignment even with the best orthodontics.  Everyday tasks, like biting and chewing foods, can be difficult for people with an uneven bite distribution.

A mal-occlusion can be so severe that the front teeth cannot incise thru a sandwich.  This condition as the name implies, an anterior open bite, may not be corrected with braces alone.  Therefore the bones need to be moved into a better position to allow the teeth to evenly touch on closing.  

If you’re considering jaw surgery to address one of these issues, turn to Lyle C. Yanagihara DDS, MS, in Honolulu, HI. This reputable oral surgeon and his team will work with you to accurately diagnose and treat your condition. Visit their website or call (808) 973-1433 to learn more about how they can help.