Living with a misaligned jaw affects more than just your smile; it can impact how you eat, speak, and even breathe. Orthognathic surgery is jaw surgery that corrects misalignments of the jaw bones. It is done to restore precise bite correction between the upper and lower jaws when conventional dental treatments aren't enough. 

Around 15% of people have dental or jaw misalignment that cannot be treated with braces alone. For these people, orthognathic surgery is a life-changing treatment that can improve facial aesthetics and chewing function, relieve jaw pain, and improve speech clarity. 

If you've struggled with an underbite, overbite, or crooked jaw that braces alone couldn't fix, orthognathic surgery might be the solution you've been looking for. Continue reading to learn more about this type of jaw surgery, how it’s done, what to expect during recovery, and where to find the best orthodontist in Palo Alto who is an expert in orthognathic jaw surgery.

What is Orthognathic Surgery?

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is a procedure that repositions the bones of the upper and lower jaw, or both, to improve their alignment and function. During the procedure, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon makes precise cuts in the jawbones, moves them into the correct position, and secures them with small plates and screws. Most patients undergo orthodontic treatments before or after surgery to ensure optimal teeth alignment. Some of the most common treatments needed before surgical procedures include: 

  • Orthodontic appliances
  • Braces, including clear aligners like Invisalign
  • Palatal expanders 

Conditions that can be treated with corrective jaw surgery include:

  • Malocclusion of the upper and lower teeth when biting, including overbites, underbites, and crossbites that are too severe for orthodontics alone 
  • Unevenness in facial features due to disproportionate jaw growth
  • Open Bite, where front teeth don't meet when biting down, creating a gap between upper and lower teeth
  • TMJ disorders that cause chronic pain or dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint that don't respond to conservative treatments
  • Sleep apnea problems during sleep caused by airway obstruction 
  • Difficulty chewing or speaking due to jaw misalignment
  • Excessive wear of teeth resulting from poor bite alignment
  • Facial injury reconstruction after sustaining trauma from a fall or accident
  • Birth defects like a small jaw called micrognathia or a protruding jaw, known as mandibular prognathism

How to Know Who Needs Orthognathic Surgery

Candidates for orthognathic surgery typically have jaw misalignments that are too severe for orthodontic treatment alone. Common indicators include: 

  • Difficulty biting, chewing, or swallowing food
  • Chronic jaw pain or headaches
  • Excessive tooth wear
  • Mouth breathing
  • Sleep apnea
  • Speech problems, such as a lisp or slurring
  • Facial imbalance, where the chin, nose, and lips appear disproportionate

Some patients seek treatment primarily to improve facial aesthetics when a protruding or receding jaw affects their appearance and self-confidence. An orthodontist who offers advanced imaging techniques like 3D dental scans to analyze jaw structure can help diagnose your need for corrective jaw surgery and develop a treatment plan. Because jaw surgery usually involves an orthodontic component, modern orthodontists also collaborate with oral surgeons to provide the best results.

The Orthognathic Surgery Procedure Explained

Orthognathic surgery follows a carefully planned, multiphase process that begins months before the actual operation. 

  • Preoperative preparations typically include comprehensive orthodontic treatment to align teeth properly
  • Detailed 3D dental imaging to create surgical guides
  • In some circumstances, the creation of custom splints that will help position your jaws correctly during surgery

On the day of surgery, you'll receive general anesthesia before the surgeon makes incisions inside your mouth to access the jawbones. By placing incisions inside your mouth, you’ll have no visible scars. The specific procedure depends on your needs: 

  • Maxillary osteotomy repositions the upper jaw for overbites or midface deficiencies
  • Mandibular osteotomy corrects the lower jaw for underbites or receding chins
  • Bimaxillary surgery addresses both jaws simultaneously for complex misalignments or facial asymmetry

During these procedures, the surgeon precisely cuts and repositions the bones using specialized saws and drills, then secures them with titanium plates and screws that typically remain permanently in place. Some surgeons also use computer-guided navigation systems or 3D-printed cutting guides to enhance accuracy. The entire operation usually takes several hours. After surgery, you can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days for your initial recovery and pain management. 

What to Expect When Recovering from Orthognathic Surgery

Your jaw surgery recovery timeline is usually predictable, though individual experiences vary:

  • During the first 12 weeks after surgery, you’ll likely experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort managed with prescribed pain medications and cold compresses. During this period, you'll follow a liquid-only diet, gradually progressing to soft foods as healing advances. 
  • You can expect facial swelling to peak around day three and then gradually subside over the next few months, with some residual swelling possibly lasting up to a year. 
  • Most patients return to work or school within a few weeks, though strenuous activities and contact sports should be avoided for six to 12 months. 

To ensure proper healing, it's crucial to follow your surgeon's specific postoperative instructions, which typically include:

  • Diligent oral hygiene using a special soft brush and prescribed mouth rinse
  • Sleeping with your head elevated to reduce swelling
  • Avoiding tobacco products and straws, both of which can disrupt healing
  • Attending all follow-up appointments to monitor progress
  • Continuing orthodontic adjustments once cleared by your surgeon 
  • Maintaining a nutritionally complete diet despite food restrictions

While most patients resume normal jaw function around three months after surgery, complete healing of the bone and final settling of your bite may take up to a year. 

Looking for the Best Orthodontist to Get You Ready for Jaw Surgery in Palo Alto?

Dr. Merna Tajaddod brings a refreshing approach to orthognathic surgery preparation in Palo Alto by combining clinical expertise with genuine compassion for each patient's unique needs. As a board-certified orthodontist, she bridges the gap between corrective jaw surgery and modern orthodontic solutions through her specialized Invisalign treatment protocols. 

Rather than limiting patients to traditional braces, Dr. Tajaddod creates personalized invisible aligner plans that perfectly position your teeth before surgery and refine your bite afterward, all without the discomfort and appearance of metal brackets. Her meticulous treatment planning ensures your teeth are ideally aligned in both the upper and lower jaws, creating the optimal foundation for your oral surgeon to achieve harmonious facial proportions. 

Ready to work with the top orthodontist in Palo Alto who pairs technical precision with a warm, welcoming environment where your comfort and results take center stage?