What is the Recovery Time after Jaw Surgery in Singapore?

If you will be having jaw surgery in Singapore, you're sure to have questions about the process. One of the more common questions patients ask as they plan their treatment is how long they can expect recovery to take after surgery has been done. Of course, your Singapore oral surgeon can offer the most accurate answers to specific questions about your case. However, we can offer some general information on the recovery time after jaw surgery.

Jaw Surgery in Singapore

There are various types of jaw surgery that are commonly done by Singapore Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Among the most common are corrective jaw surgery, or orthognathic surgery, which is done to correct disproportionate or misaligned jaws, dental implant placement procedures and surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth. Since these procedures are quite different from one another, so too is the amount of time it takes to recover.

Orthognathic surgery is done to correct jaw abnormalities that create functional and/or aesthetic issues in patients. This type of jaw surgery is a process that includes several months of orthodontic treatment before and after surgery, during which your Singapore oral surgeon will adjust the size, position and/or shape of the upper jaw, lower jaw or both in order to properly align the jaws. Recovery from the surgical portion of the treatment occurs in two phases. Initial healing, which includes healing of incisions and resolution of swelling, bruising and stiffness in the jaw, typically takes about 6 weeks, while complete bone and nerve healing generally takes 9 to 12 months. Most patients are able to return to normal activities within 3 to 6 weeks, but strenuous activities, such as sports or heavy lifting, should be avoided for at least 3 months after corrective jaw surgery.

Dental implant placement procedures, which involve the surgical implantation of titanium posts into the jawbone, are done to create a foundation for implant-based dental restorations. Recovery from this type of jaw surgery occurs in two basic phases as well, with initial healing of incision sites and resolution of inflammation and bruising complete within 3 to 6 weeks, and bone healing and osseointegration – the bonding process between implants and the jawbone – generally taking 3 to 6 months. Patients are generally able to resume work and/or daily activities within 3 to 5 days, but strenuous activity should be avoided throughout the osseointegration period.  

Impacted wisdom teeth extraction is done to remove troublesome wisdom teeth, alleviating symptoms and preventing the complications improperly developed wisdom teeth can cause. Depending upon the type of impaction – whether the tooth is impacted within soft tissue or bone – initial recovery may take from 2 to 6 weeks, while bone healing may be expected to be complete within 90 days in most cases. The average patient is able to resume normal daily activities within 3 to 5 days, with the exception of strenuous sports or activities, which should be avoided for about 6 weeks.

Again, these are just general guidelines on the recovery times for common jaw surgeries in the average Singapore patient. While this information can give you an idea of how much time you will spend recovering from your procedure, your Singapore oral surgeon will be able to give you a more accurate estimate according to your specific circumstances.