How Long Does Jaw Surgery Take To Heal?
Orthognathic surgery is the medical name for corrective jaw surgery. The surgery reshapes the jaw and relieves orthodontic problems of patients struggling with uneven or dysfunctional jaws. Patients can enjoy better breathing, speaking, and appearance through one integrative orthodontic and maxillofacial treatment plan.
What is Jaw Surgery?
At Faces Fort Worth, corrective jaw surgery is part of a 12-24 month process to correct breathing and other function problems from dental irregularities in the jaw. While the surgery happens during an interim period, the process requires various other orthodontic treatments to ensure a bright smile and a functional jaw.
Dr. Sonneveld uses the CS 9300 for precise 3D imaging to determine the individualized plan for each patient. In a hospital, Dr. Sonneveld realigns your upper and lower jaw. He may remove some teeth or use bone grafting for the best results.
After fixing the jaws into place, Dr. Sonneveld positions them permanently with bone plates and screws. Patients who complete the surgery and treatment process notice improved teeth function, sleep, breathing, swallowing, jaw appearance, and self-esteem.
How Long is Recovery from Jaw Surgery?
Jaw surgery requires a hospital stay for one to three days to monitor your healing process. We may place a plastic stint to train your mouth muscles to work with your jaw’s new position. Your jaw will be swollen, so we recommend sleeping with your head raised, icing the jaw, and taking prescribed medication to minimize swelling.
You will be on a liquid diet for at least two weeks to allow the jaw to heal appropriately. We recommend using a straw for drinking water and avoiding sugary drinks or alcohol. Please do not chew gum or eat foods with a hard texture for one to two months after surgery. These foods can interfere with your healing.
Most patients return to their daily activities after two weeks, but you will need to avoid physically strenuous activities for longer. After the initial healing, you may wear braces for six to nine months to finish adjusting your teeth to your new jaw position.
After your jaw and teeth are aligned, we recommend wearing removable retainers to keep your teeth in a new position. Depending on the extent of your correction, we recommend wearing the retainer continuously for a year.
Request a Consultation
Give us a call today at 817-927-1818 or fill out the form below to schedule an appointment. You’ll be happy you chose Facial & Cosmetic Surgery Fort Worth for your oral surgery and facial cosmetic surgery needs.
Am I a Good Candidate for Jaw Surgery?
Candidates are patients with jaw problems that cannot be improved with orthodontic treatment alone. Most patients have worn braces for a long time and have seen minimal improvement. Good candidates are those with the following:
- Unbalanced facial features
- Inability to close lips without straining
- TMJ disorder or other jaw pains
- Open bite, underbite, or overbite
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
We do not recommend jaw surgery for children whose jaws are not finished developing. Females may need to wait until they are 14-17 years old. Males may need to wait until they are 17-21 years old.
Take the Next Step
If you have further questions about jaw surgery, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Faces Fort Worth. Call us at (817) 927-1818 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to taking care of you.
