When Do I Need Jaw Surgery?

Pain is a sensation we desperately try to avoid, but sometimes our bodies do us no favors and make everyday activities unbearable. When the bones in our mouths are the ones to blame, professional oral surgeons in 76210 might recommend jaw surgery.

Facial trauma, TMJ disorder, sleep apnea, and an open bite are only some conditions that can land you in a dentist's chair for a corrective procedure. For better results and permanent improvements in your health and lifestyle, you can also follow after-surgery tips to take care of yourself at home.

Conditions That Can Make You Undergo Jaw Surgery

Facial Trauma

Adventurous and unfortunate people can become perfect candidates for jaw surgery after they've faced facial trauma. Your face contains vessels, nerves, and bones, which are highly susceptible to fractures and cracks. If you've been a victim of a car or motorcycle accident, an animal bite, or a sports injury, your soft facial tissue will have likely suffered from severe damage. If your jawbone is hurt after trauma and left untreated, its functions can become permanently impaired, and its appearance can change forever.

TMJ Disorder

You might have been lucky enough to avoid facial trauma, but that doesn't necessarily make you a stranger to jaw problems. Stress or teeth grinding can trigger TMJ disorder, a condition that affects the joint connecting your jaw to your skull. When you exert too much pressure on this tissue, the excruciating pain can give you headaches and hinder the way you eat and talk.  

If these symptoms ring any bell, schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon and try soft and liquid foods to stop forcing your joints.

Sleep Apnea

Another medical condition that may result in a perfect opportunity for jaw surgery is obstructive sleep apnea. This disorder results in more than just loud snores; it causes air blockages that momentarily stop your breathing. Not only does sleep apnea make you feel powerless and terrified, but it also limits the amount of oxygen that reaches your brain, producing long-term damage to your organs. Many people suffer from this disorder because they have misaligned or misshapen jaws, and corrective oral surgery might solve their problem.

Open Bite

When someone isn't lucky enough to have their upper and lower teeth aligned when they close their mouth, they have a condition known as malocclusion or open bite. When your smile looks like a slope because you sucked your thumb as a child or thrust your tongue against your teeth, you might have trouble chewing or uttering some sounds. Sometimes orthodontists can take care of this issue, but more often than not, jaw surgery is a more convenient solution.

How to Take Care of Your Jaw After Surgery

Eat Soft Meals

If you've undergone jaw surgery to get rid of some medical condition once and for all, you need to know which foods are friends and which are foes. Try to mash or liquify any meal, so you don't use your jaw, and avoid anything hard, chewy or chunky that can make you twitch in pain and slow your recovery process.

If possible, use a straw so food doesn't come into contact with your mouth, and you can keep chewing to a minimum. Chronic nail-biters should keep their hands away from their mouths since this bad habit forces your jaw and makes for a bitter experience.

Use Ice Bags

Aside from discomfort, swelling is usually part of the aftermath of jaw surgery. Before undergoing treatment, buy ice bags and put them in the freezer, so they are ready for you to use when recovering. Bags of frozen foods will also do the trick, but clean them thoroughly before placing them over your cheek.

Don't put ice cubes inside your mouth or chew on them since this can hurt your teeth and cause bleeding and further swelling, making for an agonizing and slow-paced recovery.

Drink Tons of Water

Staying hydrated after surgery is always crucial to get rid of anesthesia and counteract the side effects of the procedure. Try only to drink water for at least 48 hours, and then slowly reincorporate soft drinks, such as natural juice or milk. Stay away from staining or sugary beverages, such as coffee or soda, since they can jeopardize your teeth and cause infections.

Schedule Follow-up Dentist Visits

Your oral surgeon will always ask you to schedule a follow-up appointment to check if there've been any problems with your recovery and if you need further interventions. If you've been experiencing any weird symptoms after jaw surgery, such as constant bleeding or pain that doesn't go away with medication, book an emergency visit and prevent the issue from worsening.

Looking for a Qualified Professional That Performs Jaw Surgery in 76210?

Jaw surgery is the perfect fit for patients with facial trauma, TMJ disorder, sleep apnea, or an open bite. Our team of professional oral surgeons can relieve your jaw pain forever, so call us today to get an appointment!