Treatments Everyday and preventive care
Jaw surgery and facial injuries in Madhapur
Some problems sit in the jaw rather than the teeth: jaws that have grown out of line, so the teeth cannot meet properly however well they are straightened, or a jaw broken in a fall or a road accident. Both are treated with surgery on the jaw itself, and both start with a proper examination and scans.
When the problem is in the jaw
- An orthodontist has told you braces alone cannot correct your bite, because the jaws themselves are out of position
- Your lower jaw sits well forward or well back, and biting or closing your lips together is hard
- After a blow to the face your teeth no longer meet the way they did, or it hurts to open your mouth
- A fall or an accident has loosened or broken teeth and injured the lips, gums or jaw
How it is assessed and treated
- An examination and scans, usually X-rays and often a CBCT scan, so the position of the jaws or the line of a fracture can be seen properly.
- Corrective jaw surgery is almost always planned together with braces, worn before and after the operation, so the plan covers both.
- Operations on the jaw are usually done under general anaesthesia in a hospital, not in the dental chair. You are told where yours would be done, and what each part costs, before you decide.
- Recovery is measured in weeks: soft food, swelling that takes time to go down, and follow-up visits to check the jaw is healing in the right position.
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery)
When the upper or lower jaw has grown too far forward, too far back or unevenly, the teeth cannot meet properly, however well they are lined up. Orthognathic surgery moves the jaw itself into a better position, and the braces before and after bring the teeth into line with it.
It is normally done once the jaws have stopped growing, so it is mainly a treatment for adults.
A broken jaw
Signs of a broken jaw include pain and swelling, a bite that suddenly feels wrong, numbness in the lower lip or chin, and difficulty opening or closing the mouth.
Some fractures heal with the jaw held still for a few weeks. Others need small plates and screws to hold the pieces in place while the bone heals. The scans decide which.
Injuries to the face, mouth and teeth
Falls, sport and road accidents often injure the teeth, lips, gums and jaw at the same time. Teeth knocked loose or out of place, cuts inside the mouth and breaks in the bone that holds the teeth are treated as one injury, not one tooth at a time.
A knocked-out adult tooth is time-critical. Hold it by the crown, not the root, keep it in milk, and come in straight away.
Who provides this treatment at Align Dental
- Dr. Surya Consultant dentist
Consultants are not at the clinic every day, so ask which day they are in when you book.
Worth knowing first
If an injury to the face came with a blow to the head, any loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to a hospital emergency department first. Those matter more than the jaw or the teeth, and the jaw can be treated once they have been checked.
If you are nervous about this, say so when you book. It changes how we run the appointment, and it is a very ordinary thing to tell us.
