Better Health Through Life-Changing Results
Many people suffer from an improper bite or misaligned jaws. This may arise from improper development of the upper and lower jaw, either from a birth defect or as a result of facial trauma. Many times this problem can be corrected with the use of orthodontics; however, sometimes the abnormal growth is so severe that corrective jaw surgery is necessary. This type of jaw surgery is known as orthognathic surgery.
At Utah Surgical Arts, our oral surgeons understand the delicacy of this procedure and walk you through every step of the surgery and recovery. Some people experience facial pain, but do not think jaw surgery is necessary to fix the problem. Orthognathic surgery can solve a number of maxillofacial issues, ranging from painful conditions to asymmetrical facial features. Learn more about this life-changing procedure by contacting Utah Surgical Arts in Provo, Payson, South Jordan, or Lehi, UT, today.
When Corrective Jaw Surgery Is Necessary
You may be a candidate for orthognathic surgery if you experience any of the following problems:
- Difficulty biting, chewing, or swallowing
- Significantly protruding upper or lower jaw
- Speech problems, breathing problems, or sleep apnea
- Difficulty closing your lips comfortably
- Receding chin
- Chronic facial pain
The Orthognathic Surgery Procedure
When you elect to undergo orthognathic surgery, your orthodontist will prepare your mouth for the procedure by properly aligning your teeth to each jaw respectively. Your surgeon at Utah Surgical Arts will then surgically manipulate one or both of your jaws and move them to their new permanent position that allows for proper oral function and maximum facial aesthetics.
Prior to any treatment, you will meet with Dr. Harris, Dr. Park, Dr. Brown, Dr. Wood, or Dr. Holladay at a consultation appointment to evaluate your jaws and oral health. Our offices are equipped with CBCT scanning, which we use to get a 3D look at your facial bone, soft tissues, and jaw alignment. This is a complex surgical procedure, and you will undergo general anesthesia to sleep comfortably during the surgery.
We use safe and proven surgical techniques to secure the jaws in place with plates and screws (rigid fixation). Because of modern advances in orthognathic surgery, you do not need to have your mouth wired closed. After surgery, you might have a few elastics in your mouth to guide you into your new biting position, but you will be able to open and close your mouth. A few weeks after surgery, your orthodontist will begin to make some small or fine corrections needed to finish the bite before removing your braces.
Benefits of Jaw Surgery
Patients receiving this treatment can expect to see numerous benefits, including:
- Improved chewing, speech, and respiratory function
- Enhanced facial harmony, balance, and aesthetic appearance
- Decreased likelihood of short- and long-term relapse
- Minimal treatment time
- Improved confidence and better oral health
The surgeons and team at Utah Surgical Arts are uniquely trained and proficient in orthognathic surgery. We enjoy seeing patients grow with self-confidence because of their jaws’ ability to function normally. Some of the most amazing positive transformations that we have ever seen are a result of orthognathic surgery.
AAAHC Accreditation
Utah Surgical Arts is approved by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). This accreditation is difficult to obtain and allows our office to function as a hospital and/or surgical center. Since orthognathic surgery must be performed in a surgical center, there are many instances where the patient may be unable to have this surgery due to the high cost of the hospital or surgical center. If your surgery can be performed at Utah Surgical Arts, the cost savings may be significant. Many patients who were unable to have the procedure due to the high cost involved were able to have the procedure performed at Utah Surgical Arts. Learn More.
Types of Anesthesia
Our surgeons at Utah Surgical Arts offer many anesthesia and sedation options for patients to choose from.
Reviews From Our Jaw Surgery Patients
"My name is Kathryn. I live in Highland, UT, and I came to Utah Surgical Arts as it was kind of a package deal with my braces. I had a pretty severe underbite and started to get lockjaw, and as a singer, that’s not a good thing to have. So, I came to get all that fixed and have been so grateful that I went. I don’t have my problems anymore. I’ve always been self-conscious of my jaw. Growing up, my nickname was "chisel chin" because I have a pointier chin, and it was even more pronounced when I was younger with that underbite. After fixing it, I actually like my profile now, and I never did before. If you live in Highland or Orem or Springville, I recommend coming to Utah Surgical Arts. The doctors were fabulous, and the staff is really great to work with."
"My name is Cathie, and I live in Elk Ridge, Utah. We came in because my daughter had a jaw abnormality that required a jaw surgery, so we came in to see Dr. Harris. I was very nervous about bringing her in for surgery. She's never had surgery before, so she's never been under anesthetic. We knew that surgery was going to be pretty extensive and pretty painful. It settled my nerves as a mother to know that we were seeing a medical doctor, and Dr. Harris is very confident, filled us in very well on what he was going to do — that did help me to feel a lot better about what was going to happen. She was off pain pills in a week, so we're only two and a half weeks into this, and she is doing fantastic. I would absolutely recommend Utah Surgical Arts to anyone. They did an excellent job, and they were great with my daughter."
"My name is Alicia Bine, and I am from Spanish Fork, UT, and I came to Dr. Harris to have my jaw realigned and readjusted, and I had some orthognathic surgery provided for me. Dr. Harris is just such a great guy; it was a life-changing experience for me. As the father of Alicia, she'd had an apparatus in her mouth from the time she was 8 years old until the time we finally sat down with Dr. Harris here in his facility. We said, "We’ve got to do some pretty serious things here. This is cold hard truth: We need to surgically break her jaw and move it forward." I’ll tell you, as a father, that’s pretty emotional when you hear your child’s going to have a surgery like that, and it’s needed to happen because years later she won’t be able to chew food or to function. So, when we did that, I felt very secure. I’ve known Dr. Harris for a very long time. To me, he’s the best in the state and one of the premier in the nation. I have no doubt about that. So we’re just really, really happy, really excited, and I’m just so grateful for the life change that he’s made in her life."
Better Patient Experiences Are Found Here
At Utah Surgical Arts, we pride ourselves on the levels of compassion, integrity, and successful results that each patient receives. Use the buttons below to learn more and begin your treatment with us.