Corrective Jaw Surgery
in Springfield

Jaw surgery is recommended when the skeletal discrepancy between your upper and lower jaws is too severe to correct with orthodontics alone. This includes significant underbite, overbite, open bite, facial asymmetry, or obstructive sleep apnea caused by jaw positioning. Most patients require orthodontics before and after surgery for optimal results.

Initial recovery takes two to four weeks, during which a liquid and soft diet is followed. Jaw numbness may persist for several months as nerves regenerate. Most patients return to work or school within two to three weeks. Full bone healing and final bite settling occurs over six to twelve months with continued orthodontic treatment.

Corrective jaw surgery is typically covered by medical insurance, not dental insurance, because it addresses a skeletal deformity. Documentation from your orthodontist and oral surgeon demonstrating the medical necessity — including functional impairment, airway issues, or inability to chew properly — is usually required for pre-authorization.

Risks include temporary or rarely permanent nerve numbness in the lip or chin, infection, bleeding, relapse of the jaw position, TMJ changes, and need for revision surgery. These risks are minimized when surgery is performed by an experienced team. Success rates for modern orthognathic surgery exceed 95 percent.