Orthognathic Surgery in Hermosa Beach: What to Expect

Around 15% of orthodontic patients have dental and jaw abnormalities that cannot be fixed with braces alone. For these people, getting orthognathic surgery, also known as jaw surgery, is usually the best option. Orthognathic surgery combines traditional orthodontic treatment with surgical interventions to properly align the jaw and teeth. This can give patients with severe malocclusion — a misalignment of the jaw — more aesthetically pleasing facial features, confident smiles, and better chewing function. 

Continue reading to learn more about specific conditions that orthognathic surgery can treat and where to find the best orthognathic surgeons in Los Angeles’ South Bay Area. 

What is Orthognathic Surgery?

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is often recommended to improve the function of the jaw and to address issues such as:

• Severely misaligned bites, including overbite, underbite, open bite, and crossbite
• Difficulty chewing due to severe malocclusion
• Facial asymmetry due to misaligned jaw
• Birth defects such as cleft palate with jaw involvement
• Misaligned jaw due to facial or jaw injury
• Obstructive sleep apnea, caused by jaw malocclusion

Orthognathic surgery is typically performed by an oral surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon and is usually also done in collaboration with an orthodontist to achieve optimal results. This major surgery may also involve repositioning the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both to improve the overall alignment and function of the jaw. 

Do I Need Orthognathic Surgery? 

Corrective jaw surgery is a major surgical procedure, so deciding whether or not to have it done is a big decision. You don’t have to make this decision alone, however, working with your dental team is the best way to understand your unique dental needs, goals, and treatment options. To be a good candidate for orthognathic surgery, it is best if you: 

• Have a bite discrepancy that can be treated with jaw surgery. 
• Have realistic goals for your results and a willingness to follow through with recovery expectations and continue orthodontic and dental work such as palatal expanders or braces if necessary. 
• Are in good physical health and, ideally, a nonsmoker to ensure your ability to undergo surgery. 

Working with a knowledgeable team of experts is the best way to evaluate your candidacy for jaw surgery. Other treatment options are available if orthognathic surgery isn’t the best option for you. 

What to Expect When Getting Orthognathic Surgery 

One popular question we get is, “What can I expect during and after surgery?” To better explain this, you should understand that there are different types of orthognathic surgery, each focusing on a different area of the jaw or desired outcome. The most common orthognathic procedures include: 

• Le Fort I Osteotomy - A procedure that focuses on re-aligning the upper jaw by unhinging it from the temporomandibular joints and reattaching it in a new position. 
• Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy - This procedure involves moving and realigning the lower jaw. 
• Bimaxillary Osteotomy - This surgery combines Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, realigning both the upper and lower jaws. 
• Genioplasty - This procedure focuses on realignment or reinforcement of the chin. 

Plates and screws are often used to reattach or reposition the jaw or chin during jaw surgery. Because of the extent of this type of surgery, most patients can expect one to two days in the hospital after undergoing orthognathic surgery. However, genioplasty may be done as an outpatient procedure in some cases. Additionally, will need to be on a soft or pureed food diet for around six weeks after surgery. There will be some pain and swelling, as with any surgery, but pain medications, ice therapy, and other treatment planning will help keep you as comfortable as possible. 

Where to Find The Best Orthognathic Surgeon in Hermosa Beach

Orthognathic surgery is a great option for aesthetic reasons and can also significantly improve various medical conditions, including sleep apnea. For the best outcome and smoothest recovery, you should work with oral and maxillofacial surgeons who are highly skilled in the different orthognathic procedures and advancing techniques. 

For over 30 years, Dr. Sapna Lohiya, Dr. Abraham J, Estess, and Dr. Jeffrey Donlevy have committed themselves to serving the South Bay Area of Los Angeles with excellence in oral surgery. 

Combining our three decades of experience with state-of-the-art surgical suites and the latest oral and maxillofacial surgical techniques, Donlevy, Estess and Lohiya Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Group provides the most comfortable oral surgery experience for full mouth reconstruction and orthognathic surgeries. 

Ready to get orthognathic surgery with the best oral surgeons in Hermosa Beach? Call to schedule today!