Consulting a Jaw Surgeon for Improved Bite and Function

Jaw Surgeon Lee's Summit, MO

While receiving a referral to a jaw surgeon can raise many questions, our jaw surgeon and team are here to help. We have the professional training and knowledge to ensure patients receive the proper care they need. Our treatment can help address conditions affecting the mouth, jaw, head, neck, and face. We can help determine the source of the issue and can provide treatment for lasting results.

Reasons to Visit a Jaw Surgeon

A dental professional may recommend visiting a jaw surgeon for several reasons, mainly when surgery to the skeletal system or nerves is necessary. If a patient's jaw is misaligned or they experience pain in their temporomandibular joint (TMJ), it can seriously impair their bite and oral function. In turn, impaired oral function can make speaking, chewing, and breathing difficult. Furthermore, certain conditions can result from poor jaw alignment, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, a medical professional will recommend a jaw surgeon if traditional appliances do not yield adequate results.

Moreover, a dental professional or oncologist may also recommend the patient visit a jaw surgeon if oral cancer is present. Oral, facial, or neck cancer produces lesions and tumors that can impair the bite and function as well as threaten the underlying bone structure (jawbone).

How a surgeon can improve dental function

When visiting a jaw surgeon, consultation is required to determine the most effective treatment. This consultation will include a physical evaluation, a medical and dental history review, and an order of X-rays or CT scans for a better insight into the patient's condition. From there, they can curate a treatment plan. Improving a patient's dental function can include any of the following procedures:

Dental implants

If a patient's disease, infection, or malocclusion (crossbite, overbite, underbite, etc.) causes a patient to have a missing tooth, they must receive a replacement to preserve their oral health underlying jawbone. As part of their overall treatment plan, the patient must address the previously mentioned conditions before the jaw surgeon can install dental implants into the jawbone. Dental implants are titanium posts with abutments attached to the top, sticking out of the gum line, supporting a custom restorative. A restorative can be a crown, bridge, or denture. Dental implants restore dental function and appearance for a lifetime.

Jaw surgery

There are three types of jaw or orthognathic surgery: double jaw surgery, mandibular osteotomy, and maxillary osteotomy. Double jaw surgery involves surgically repositioning and shaping the mandibular (lower) and maxillary (upper) jawbones. Mandibular osteotomy corrects conditions attacking the lower jawbone, while maxillary osteotomy corrects the upper jawbone.

Tumor removal

A jaw surgeon will remove tumors and repair or reshape the soft tissue structures and underlying bone. They can also help repair damage to the bone caused by radiation therapy, which also encompasses cosmetic restructuring.

Consult our jaw surgeon

If you are having issues with the underlying bone of your head, neck, face, or mouth or have been recommended for a tumor to be removed in the same areas, do not hesitate to contact our office. Our jaw surgeon is here to help restore your oral health and overall function.

Request an appointment here: https://spectrumsurgical.net or call Facial Spectrum at (816) 524-4334 for an appointment in our Lee's Summit office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Recent Posts

What To Know Before Getting Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Getting wisdom teeth extractions can seem like a nerve-wracking experience, but the process is actually quite straightforward, especially if you prepare ahead of time! By taking a few small steps, you can simplify the extraction and the recovery afterward so you can move on with your life as soon as possible. Before your wisdom teeth…

What Is The Process Of Getting A Rhinoplasty?

You can get a rhinoplasty to improve your breathing, your nose’s appearance, or even both. The upper portion of the nose is bone, while the lower part is cartilage. This complex structure needs extensive planning. Understanding the process of this surgery can help prepare you well for it. Here are the details you should consider…

The Role Of Dental Implants In Your Oral Health And Function

A dental implant is considered the gold standard of dental restorations. Titanium rods act as dental roots that stimulate the jawbone. The artificial crowns replace the missing ones above the gumline. These restorations are what you need to have stable, natural-looking teeth again. Here are the details about the role of a dental implant in…

The Role Of Dental Implants In Your Oral Health And Function

A dental implant is considered the gold standard of dental restorations. Titanium rods act as dental roots that stimulate the jawbone. The artificial crowns replace the missing ones above the gumline. These restorations are what you need to have stable, natural-looking teeth again. Here are the details about the role of a dental implant in…

Recent Posts

What To Know Before Getting Wisdom Teeth Extractions

What To Know Before Getting Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Getting wisdom teeth extractions can seem like a nerve-wracking experience, but the process is actually quite straightforward, especially if you prepare ahead of time! By taking a few small steps, you can simplify the extraction and the recovery afterward so you can move on with your life as soon as possible. Before your wisdom teeth…

What Is The Process Of Getting A Rhinoplasty?

What Is The Process Of Getting A Rhinoplasty?

You can get a rhinoplasty to improve your breathing, your nose’s appearance, or even both. The upper portion of the nose is bone, while the lower part is cartilage. This complex structure needs extensive planning. Understanding the process of this surgery can help prepare you well for it. Here are the details you should consider…