Corrective Jaw Surgery for a Broken Jaw

Dr. Allan Libunao and Dr. Richard Kim are leading oral surgeons who take pride in helping the people of Bolingbrook smile with confidence and total health. They offer advanced maxillofacial/oral surgery, which has a number of practical, cosmetic, and reconstructive uses.

If you have suffered from a broken or dislocated jaw, an oral surgeon can help. Let's cover some of the basics regarding corrective jaw surgery.

Broken Jaw and Dislocated Jaw: What Is the Difference?

Many people conflate broken jaws and dislocated jaws, but they're actually two different kinds of jaw injuries.

• Dislocated Jaw – A dislocated jaw means that your mandible (lower jaw) has moved from its proper position, affecting the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull.

• Broken Jaw – A broken jaw refers to an actual fracture to the bone or bones of the jaw.

These kinds of injuries can both result in serious pain, and may be the result of serious physical trauma or accidents.

Problems Related to a Faulty Jaw

If you have suffered from a broken jaw or a dislocated jaw, you might experience any of the following signs, symptoms, and general difficulties:

• Serious pain
• Bleeding
• Problems speaking
• Problems eating
• Issues with airways
• Swelling around the face
• Changes in facial appearance

When to Undergo Surgical Treatment

If you have been seriously injured in an accident or assault of some kind, it's of the utmost importance that you seek immediate medical attention, especially if more than just your jaw has been injured. After ensuring your immediate medical needs are addressed, it's best to meet with an oral surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon to discuss the ideal treatment for your injury.

Treating Dislocated Jaws

Sometimes a dislocated jaw may not need to be operated on depending on the nature of the dislocation. If serious damage has been done to the jaw joint or the mandible during your injury, however, surgery may be necessary. The primary focus will be on restoring proper position of the jaw joint and addressing any damage to the various structures involved.

Treating Broken Jaws

If your jaw is broken, surgical treatment will typically involve the use of plates, screws, or grafts to address the fracture and help restore the position of the jawbone structures and improve health and wellness. In many cases, the incisions made for jaw surgery are located entirely inside of the mouth, which means there is no visible scarring on the face or jawline.

Wiring of the Jaw for Recovery

After you have undergone jaw surgery, you may need to have your jaw wired shut in order to ensure proper healing and alignment. This will require you to have a liquid diet for some time.. Generally healing in these cases can take as long as six weeks. An exact timeline can be provided to you during your consultation.

Contact Suburban Oral Surgery & Implant Center

To learn more about undergoing reconstructive surgery an improving your overall wellness, be sure to contact our team of dental surgery and reconstructive treatment experts today. Dr. Allan Libunao and Dr. Richard Kim look forward to your visit and helping you achieve good health.