Among the most common conditions treated with jaw surgery are occlusion issues caused by uneven or misaligned jaws, such as severe overbite, underbite, cross bite or open bite. All of these conditions can cause functional problems, including poor biting and chewing efficiency, abnormal tooth wear, speech impediments and breathing difficulties, as well as the aesthetic issues, such as chin protrusion or recession, an inability to close the mouth naturally or unbalanced facial features. Correcting overbite or other jaw position and/or size via orthognathic surgery can resolve both functional and aesthetic issues caused by these conditions, improving a patient's quality-of-life.
While serious complications are fairly rare, there are some possible risks to be aware of if you're considering jaw surgery. Most common short-term complications of orthognathic surgery include:
Possible long-term complications of orthognathic surgery include:
Patients who undergo corrective jaw surgery can expect some uncomfortable issues immediately following their procedure, including swelling, light bleeding, bruising, pain and stiffness. These are not complications, but expected after effects of orthognathic surgery. Bleeding should resolve within 24 to 48 hours. Swelling and bruising should begin to decrease within 4 to 6 days. Pain and stiffness will gradually decrease as jawbones heal. Initial healing is usually complete in about six weeks, while complete healing generally takes 9 to 12 months. If these issues persist beyond those norms or you experience a marked increase in pain and swelling, it is important to call your Singapore oral surgeon to have these symptoms medically assessed.