Tag: Jaw Surgery

The Best Age for Corrective Jaw Surgery

Corrective jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, can align your teeth, help you breathe and sleep better, and show less of your gums when you smile. If you’re considering this procedure, you may wonder if you’re too old or young to have it.

Your jaw changes as you age, maturing between ages 16 and 21, and losing bone mass after age 40. No matter your age, our skilled surgeons at Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX, can work with you to determine if corrective jaw surgery can help you and then will develop a personalized surgical plan to give you the results you want.

Minimum Age for Jaw Surgery

The minimum age for jaw surgery depends on when growth finishes. For females, the jaw stops growing at around 16 to 18 years old. Males take a little longer, with growth stopping between 18 and 21.

If you have jaw surgery before your jaw finishes developing, you may need more surgeries later on. To determine if your jaw has finished growing, orthodontists and oral surgeons often use a series of X-rays to monitor growth over time.

While it’s important to wait until the jaw fully develops before modifying it with surgery, some circumstances—like difficulty breathing, eating, or speaking—may demand action earlier. No matter the situation, our experienced team can evaluate your situation and help you choose the best plan for your needs.

Maximum Age for Jaw Surgery

No strict maximum age exists for jaw surgery, and overall health is a significant factor in whether you’re a good candidate. Patients over 40 choose orthognathic surgery less often than younger patients, but you can still see effective results at this age and beyond.

Patients who have corrective jaw surgery over 50 may have a higher risk of complications like fracture, temporary jaw dysfunction, and the need for hardware removal. This occurs because, as we age, our bone structure changes and becomes less dense, which can affect how well this procedure works.

However, every patient has their own unique anatomy, and our expert surgeons can perform a comprehensive assessment to help you decide if jaw surgery is right for you.

Recommended Age Range for Jaw Surgery

The most common age for corrective jaw surgery is from the late teens to early twenties. At that time, jaw growth has finished, and patients have the highest chance of excellent healing without complications. However, adults can still receive plenty of benefits from orthognathic surgery.

How Health Conditions Affect Jaw Surgery

Certain health conditions occur more often in older patients, and some of these can affect your eligibility for surgery. Health issues that may make surgery and recovery more challenging include:

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart disease or heart failure
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Sleep apnea
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Anemia

Older patients may have a higher risk of surgical complications, but with good general health, they may still benefit from corrective jaw surgery.

How Age Affects Recovery

Younger patients typically recover from surgery more quickly than older patients. Patients with fewer years under their belt often have healthier tissues, better overall health, and a stronger immune system, all of which help them heal faster.

On the other hand, younger patients also have a higher risk of post-surgical injury. Because they heal more quickly, they can feel “back to normal” sooner and forget to rest. Older patients feel their recovery more longer, but this allows them to take care with their healing jaw and avoid injury.

What Is Jaw Surgery, and Who Needs It?

Performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, corrective jaw surgery moves the bones of your lower jaw, upper jaw, or both. This procedure can shorten, lengthen, or reposition the jaw, depending on your unique needs and goals.

Orthognathic surgery corrects a wide range of dental and skeletal issues, including:

  • Chronic jaw pain and headaches
  • Trouble biting, chewing, and swallowing
  • Gap between upper and lower teeth with a closed mouth
  • Chronic pain from TMJ or jaw misalignment
  • Unbalanced facial appearance
  • Protruding or receding jaw
  • Excessive tooth wear
  • Mouth breathing
  • Gummy smiles
  • Facial injuries
  • Sleep apnea

Not only can orthognathic surgery improve your jaw joint function, chewing ability, breathing, sleep, and speech, but it can also balance your smile and facial aesthetics.

Schedule Your Consultation at Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX

You don’t need to determine how well jaw surgery may work for you alone—our experts can help. During your consultation for jaw surgery, you will have a comprehensive examination using three-dimensional models, X-rays, and computer images to design a custom procedure for you.

We believe in a team approach and will work closely with your dentist and orthodontist throughout your treatment planning, surgery, and recovery. If you’re ready to take your first step toward a better bite, schedule your consultation today by calling us at (512) 327-7233 or requesting a consultation online today!

How Much Does Jaw Surgery Cost in Austin, TX?

Jaw surgery is a corrective procedure for bite and breathing issues, congenital conditions, facial trauma, sleep apnea, or chronic pain. When nonsurgical treatments like orthodontics or physical therapy do not sufficiently address these concerns, jaw surgery will improve function, aesthetics, and health.

By improving misalignments, bite function, and facial symmetry, jaw surgery will enhance your appearance while alleviating chewing, speaking, and breathing difficulties. This procedure leads to improved oral health, enhanced facial harmony, and increased self-confidence.

Hill Country Oral Surgery makes getting superior care as straightforward and painless as possible, allowing you to start living the lifestyle you deserve.

Factors That Affect Jaw Surgery Costs

Jaw surgery requires interdisciplinary communication, extensive treatment planning, and vast experience and expertise, all of which add to the price tag.

Variables impacting the cost of jaw surgery include:

  • Surgeon’s fees
  • Anesthesiologist’s fees
  • Facility fees
  • Postoperative care needs
  • Your surgeon’s experience
  • The intricacies of your case
  • Whether one or both jaws need treatment
  • Hospital stay (if necessary)

Because so many factors contribute to the complexity of jaw surgery, everyone’s cost is different. Your oral surgeon can provide you with an accurate estimate when customizing your treatment. You may have additional pre- and postsurgery appointments, especially if your surgical plan involves receiving attention from other specialists. Ask all your providers what you can expect to pay for their specific services.

Does Insurance Cover Jaw Surgery in Austin?

Your health insurance policy will likely cover some of the cost of jaw surgery in Austin if you have a diagnosed functional problem making this procedure medically necessary. Check with your provider to ensure you understand your copay, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and exclusions that might disqualify jaw surgery coverage.

We frequently help patients plan treatments, even when they don’t have insurance. Our convenient financing options put care within your reach.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Jaw Surgery in Austin

Even if your insurance pays for your jaw surgery, you should factor expenses like these into your financial planning:

  • Copays
  • Deductibles
  • Medications
  • Personal recovery supplies
  • Multidisciplinary appointments
  • Postsurgical care and follow-up appointments

Our insurance coordinator will work with you to prevent surprise coverage issues.

How to Finance Jaw Surgery in Austin

When you’re looking at ways to pay for jaw surgery, contact your insurance company to understand what they will and won’t cover. You may need to use medical or dental insurance, depending on your specific surgery.

Start reviewing financing once you understand what portion of the procedure you are responsible for. Most people pay with methods like these.

  • FSA/HSA
  • CareCredit
  • Personal loan

We are happy to guide you through applying for CareCredit or exploring other options to make your essential care a reality.

Finding a Surgeon for Jaw Surgery in Austin

Jaw surgery’s complexity necessitates working with an expert you fully trust. Instead of choosing based solely on cost, find the best surgeon within your price range. While jaw surgery can be a significant expense, the quality of life increase is priceless.

It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of a well-functioning and aesthetically pleasing jaw. Our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in challenging and extensive surgical cases, making us one of Austin’s top choices.

If you’re ready to learn more about how we can help you, call our Austin office at (512) 327-7233 or our Buda office at (512) 643-6066. You can also request an appointment by completing our online contact form.

Can Jaw Surgery Change Your Appearance?

Enjoy better sleeping and breathing, improved chewing, and a beautiful smile with jaw surgery. Oral surgery is the first step to correct specific cosmetic and functional issues with the jaw. Jaw surgery aims to help patients who have issues like chronic TMJ pain, trouble making the lips meet, or a protruding jaw. But can it improve your looks?

What Can I Expect?

Any type of surgery is a source of worry for patients. Operations on the lower face carry unique concerns about breathing, eating, and cosmetic appearance. Lower jaw surgery is an efficient procedure to successfully treat the issues above. Since this method involves incisions around delicate facial nerves and muscles, post-operative precautions like restrictions on physical activity and diet are common.

Effective jaw surgery will reset an irregular jaw structure. Different conditions create a need for this type of orthognathic surgery. These include genetics, birth defects, or injury. In most cases, a patient will have a receding or protruding lower jawline in relation to the upper jaw. Any jaw misalignments of the lower or upper jaw can affect the ability to chew or swallow food properly. Also, jaw-related conditions may cause sleep apnea.

The Process

In performing jaw surgery, a skilled surgeon will separate the lower jawbone from its anchor bone. Having accomplished this, your surgeon will move the bone forward or backward, depending on your jaw misalignment. They may use screws, wires, or plates the jaw’s new position. This operation may occur in a specialty surgery center, a hospital, or even in an office. Estimated operation times may therefore range from under an hour to several hours.

Jaw Surgery Benefits

The benefits from a proper jaw alignment include a balanced facial appearance, improved sleep, breathing, eating, and speech improvement. Secondary psychological benefits to note include a cosmetic revision and a boost of self-confidence.

Jaw surgery also corrects what many call a gummy smile. The best smiles expose the least amount of gum tissue. Gum tissue noticeable during your smiling should have stable, even shapes according with the upper lip. This relationship to the gum and upper lip presence is why many people feel their smiles are unattractive, making them reluctant to smile at all.

Patients who show too much gum tissue may have related health issues. If teeth eruption and jaw development were abnormal, an unnatural and uncomfortable bite may result.

There are other dental solutions for gummy smiles caused by too much gum tissue. Patients with gummy smiles triggered by a misaligned jaw or an abnormal bite should have jaw surgery. Afterward, they can take care of cosmetic issues and long-term oral health.

As you can see, jaw surgery is a comprehensive procedure. It requires multiple steps, including lifestyle changes after surgery. While the initial process might be frustrating to some, the positive effects can last a lifetime.

If you would like more information about jaw surgery, call our Austin oral surgery office at 512-327-7233 to request a consultation.

Ways to Fix Your Underbite!

An underbite is a common condition with children and adults. It occurs when the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw, causing the lower front teeth to overlap the teeth above them. While underbites may be far less common than overbites, they affect about 10% of all Americans. The leading cause of an underbite is genetics, in which the patient inherits the problem from their parents. Malformed teeth or overcrowding can also contribute to an underbite.

Now that we understand what an underbite is, now let’s look into how to fix it. Here are four treatments that dentists and oral surgeons employ to correct this condition.

1. Braces

Traditional braces have been dealing with underbites for decades. Paired with headgear and elastics, they are efficient in achieving jaw realignment. Their downside is that they are highly visible and not the most aesthetic when the patient is wearing them. Most traditional braces must be worn for 18-36 months to be effective.

2. Invisalign

A viable treatment option for an underbite, especially in adults, is the removable teeth aligner, Invisalign. This alignment therapy produces similar results as the traditional braces. It can also be paired with features like elastics to help correct overlapping teeth.

The treatment involves a series of transparent aligner trays, customized for each patient to move their teeth into the desired alignment. A 3D image of the teeth is necessary to produce the tailored aligner trays. This treatment takes about one year.

3. Home Teeth Aligners

There are other treatment options available for adults who want straighter teeth. They are similar to Invisalign in that they are removable, clear, and customized. But the big difference is they are done through remote purchases without the advantages of seeing a dentist or oral surgeon in person. As such, these home aligners are limited in their ability to fix an underbite condition.

4. Oral Jaw Surgery

When the underbite is severe, it may require oral jaw surgery. This is when the lower teeth are extended well beyond the upper, causing a problem with facial appearance. This correction is necessary when cosmetic adjustments of the teeth are not sufficient.

Oral surgery is an underbite option when the underbite is due to disproportionate jaw growth. Some patients require corrective jaw surgery and orthodontics to fix one or both jaws, followed by dental arches.

To learn if you need jaw or another oral surgery to correct an underbite or a other dental correction, contact us or call 512-327-7233 at Hill Country Oral Surgery for a consultation today.

Do You Need Corrective Jaw Surgery for Your Underbite?

Over your underbite? You’re not the only one. For many Americans, even a slight underbite can seem extremely noticeable. While many patients with this type of malocclusion can address their concerns through braces or other treatments, some individuals with more severe cases may find that corrective jaw surgery is a better long-term solution. Here’s what you need to know before investing in corrective surgery for your underbite. 

What Causes an Underbite?

Underbites are a form of malocclusion often rooted in jaw misalignment. This misalignment causes the lower teeth to extend farther than the upper teeth. However, the causes behind jaw misalignment can vary between:

  • Genetics
  • Early childhood behaviors such as thumb sucking or extended pacifier use
  • Injuries such as broken jawbones
  • Tumors

Depending on the severity and cause of the underbite, corrective jaw surgery may be the best course of action for an individual.

Evaluating the Impact of an Underbite 

In addition to evaluating the cause behind an underbite, most oral surgeons pay close attention to the impact an underbite may have on an individual’s overall oral health. For most mild cases, the mismatch is relatively unnoticeable or causes mostly cosmetic concerns. In these instances, an expert may recommend less invasive options such as orthodontia to help improve a patient’s appearance.  

In contrast, severe underbites can more seriously impact a person’s ability to bite, chew, and even speak. These individuals may also experience abnormal dental wear or find it more challenging to maintain proper oral hygiene due to their underbite. This increases the risk of periodontal disease or cavities. In these instances, correcting the underbite via corrective jaw surgery is the best solution. 

What is Corrective Jaw Surgery?

Corrective jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, is typically reserved for the most severe malocclusions. Corrective jaw surgery is highly tailored to each patient based on the cause and severity of their underbite. For some, surgery can require moving the upper jaw forward to meet the protruding lower jaw. For others, the lower jaw needs to be rotated and repositioned in order to sit flush against the upper jaw. 

As multiple surgeries are sometimes required in order to achieve the desired result, the overall process of getting corrective jaw surgery can take longer than most other procedures. Furthermore, your jaw surgery specialist may recommend combining orthognathic surgery with braces to correct the teeth’s position. However, this holistic approach to care can yield life-changing results for the patient. With corrective jaw surgery, individuals can gain a newfound sense of confidence in their appearance as well as improved quality of life. 

Schedule Your Oral Surgery Consultation Today

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, we believe that your smile can be your best asset. If your underbite is causing you grief or impacting your oral health, give us a call. Our expert oral surgeons would be happy to sit down with you and discuss your treatment options. Together, we’ll find the best solution for your malocclusion. Call 512-327-7233 or schedule your consultation online with our maxillofacial specialists in Austin, Tx today!

Can Jaw Surgery Relieve Difficulty Chewing and Biting?

Jaw surgery changes lives, improves bites, and beautifies smiles. Corrective jaw surgeries are a specialty of our oral surgeons here at Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX. Learn more about jaw surgery. Find out if you’re a candidate. Finally, call us at 512-327-7233 to schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons.

What Can Jaw Surgery Do for Me?

Jaw surgery is a versatile procedure that can correct a host of major and minor dental problems. In some cases, it is used for cosmetic changes, but generally, the primary goal of jaw surgery is to correct functional problems of the jaw and teeth.

What can jaw surgery do for you? This procedure treats many common dental problems including:

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Misaligned teeth
  • Gummy smiles
  • Jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Facial injuries and trauma
  • Chronic mouth breathing
  • Gaps between the teeth or lips when the mouth is closed
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Unbalanced facial appearance
  • Weak or receding jaw/chin
  • Sleep apnea
  • Excessive wear of the teeth

If you have any of the conditions on this list, come in for a consultation with one of our surgeons. Jaw surgery may not be the right fit for you, but when it is, it can dramatically improve symptoms, often completely resolving medical or dental complaints.

Jaw Surgery to Improve Chewing or Biting

Jaw surgery is often used to correct alignment issues between the upper and lower teeth. When the teeth and jaws don’t meet properly, biting and chewing difficulties can arise. Moving the jaws so the teeth meet up can improve jaw function. It can also make it easier to eat and chew. In addition to functional benefits, many patients notice an improvement in their smile’s appearance after jaw surgery.

Orthodontics and Jaw Surgery- Which Option Do I Need?

Orthodontics, like braces or invisible aligners, are often used to move the teeth. This can correct some bite and alignment issues but not all of them. If the jaw bones aren’t in alignment, getting the teeth into alignment can be difficult or impossible. We’ll work closely with your orthodontist to create a surgical plan that complements your orthodontic goals. Jaw surgery complements orthodontics for many of our patients.

Addressing only teeth alignment and neglecting jaw positioning and function can lead to long-term dental problems later. Uneven jaws can cause orthodontic shifting, poor facial aesthetics, periodontal issues, and joint pain if they aren’t properly treated and addressed. Jaw surgery creates a strong foundation for future dental work.

Preparing for Jaw Surgery

If you need jaw surgery, call our Austin, TX oral surgery practice to schedule a consultation. We provide a complete and comprehensive consultation using both models and x-rays. We use 3D models and computerized techniques to show patients alignment issues and to illustrate the positive impact that jaw surgery will have. You’ll see how your bite will improve and how your appearance will change.

We’ll work closely with your other dental providers, including your general dentist and your orthodontist. Jaw surgery is a delicate procedure and requires a collaborative approach for the best results.