Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Surgery)

What is orthognathic surgery?

You may have heard of ‘orthodontic’ treatment which specialises in correcting tooth position. Orthognathic surgery is similar but focuses on correcting the position of the jawbones. This surgical procedure aims at repositioning the jawbones/teeth to a more desirable position, to provide better function and a more desirable facial balance. 

Led by Dr Muammar Abu-Serriah, the team at MercyAscot Head and Neck Service provides a range of procedures to help to improve chewing/incising food, resolve obstructive sleep apnoea symptoms, and achieve better facial balance.

Symptoms that may require orthognathic surgery

Orthognathic patients are often referred by their orthodontist. Their symptoms may be one of the following:

  • The presence of a gap between the top and bottom teeth resulting in trouble biting and cutting food
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea, snoring, or breathing
  • Open bite (space between teeth when the mouth is closed)
  • Facial injuries, birth defects, or an unbalanced appearance
  • Receding chin or protruding jaw
  • Inability to make lips close without applying pressure
  • Unhappy with facial appearance due to imbalanced jawbones
If you are worried about any of these symptoms, talk to your GP or family doctor and ask for a referral to the MercyAscot Head and Neck Service.

What treatment do we offer?

It is essential that your teeth are in the right position. Orthognathic surgery's main aim is to reposition the jawbone in line with the rest of the facial skeleton. This is why we have a team of orthodontists with many years of experience managing these types of problems. 

Patients will go through a presurgical orthodontic phase which aims at optimising tooth position in relation to jawbones. Depending on the complexity, this may take up to 24 months. Once this phase is completed, the patient will have surgery. This involves a one-night stay with MercyAscot Head and Neck Service. 

All our orthognathic surgical procedures are carried out with state-of-the-art 3D planning and modern equipment. The post-surgical orthodontic phase aims at fine-tuning tooth position and any final touches. This may take 6-12 months.

There are a variety of reasons why orthognathic surgery may be necessary. 

If you are worried about any symptoms, talk to your GP or family doctor and ask for a referral to the MercyAscot Head and Neck Service.