Orthognathic surgery

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Orthognathic surgery is surgery to correct conditions of the jaw and face related to structure, growth, sleep apnea, or to assist in orthodontic treatment. Bones can be cut and re-aligned, held in place with plates and screws. Orthognathic surgery is typically perfomed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Orthognathic surgery is almost always performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, often including braces before and after surgery, and retainers after the final removal of braces.

Often, the jaw will be wired shut following many forms of orthognathic surgery, but recent advances reduce the need for this. Some surgeons prefer to wire the jaw shut anyway, to ensure proper healing of the bones. The most common complications following such surgery is numbness in the face due to nerve damage. The numbness may be either temporary, or (more rarely) permanent.