The technical question would be “does orthognathic surgery affect the upper airways?” There is a favorable effect of orthognathic surgery in the upper airways regardless of the surgical approach. Bimaxillary (upper and lower jaws together) advancement and counterclockwise rotation of the mandibular occlusal plane are the most significant contributors. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 79:450-462, 2021). […]
If you have a growth abnormality with your jaws such as a protrusive lower jaw, and you have breathing concerns, studies have shown that having the jaw surgery could increase your risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 78:2061-2069, 2020). This concern and this question would mainly bring up issues if we […]
I apologize up front if you are drawn to this blog to seek a solution to a crooked face. We do perform orthognathic surgery in our practice which can address this; however this blog is directed at an article comparing observers-variations in how facial asymmetry is seen. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 73:1606-1614, 2015). Our training […]
Over the years, I have used a number of different procedures for genioplasty procedures. I have watched my colleagues use various implant materials, but (I feel) luckily I have shied away from them. I have also avoided the use of metal bone screws and plates for these procedures as these have shown to cause long […]
Surgically assisted palatal expansion, also called rapid palatal expansion, is a common orthognathic procedure that can be done on individuals of any age. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 72:2278-2288, 2014). In the younger patient it involves just a loosening of the structures. In the teen and older patient I typically do a complete osteotomy as it […]
This technique has been around since the 70s and is a technique that I use often. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 77:489-492, 2019). I must confess that I go back and forth with the techniques and often use the Gow-Gates technique as well. When I went through my training in the 80s we were taught multiple […]
About 90% of people need to get their wisdom teeth removed. If you are a part of that 90%, you might be wondering what the steps are post-surgery. Taking it easy and getting a lot of rest is a key step to a quick recovery. Another big step is knowing what you can and can’t […]
Modern bone grafts can be used to fix a number of dental and facial issues and are often required. Dental implants often cannot be placed without first getting a bone graft. If you are considering getting dental implants or think you’re in need of a bone graft, here are some things you may want to […]
Bone grafting has become so common, most patients have encountered the term at least once before entering our office. But delving deeper into some of the additional types of bone grafting will give you a better appreciation of this amazing procedure. What is Bone Grafting? Bone grafting is the process of using natural or synthetic […]
What is orthognathic surgery? Also known as corrective jaw surgery, patients undergo this procedure in order to correct a wide range of major and minor dental and skeletal irregularities. Jaw surgery is used to correct the misalignment of a person’s jaw or teeth, which will eventually improve breathing, chewing, and speaking. While a patient’s physical […]
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