Corrective Jaw (Orthognathic) Surgery

The way your facial bones develop will affect your oral health, facial appearance and proportion. The position and size of your facial bones and teeth will determine how well you bite, chew and speak.

Any of the following symptoms may indicate a need for corrective jaw surgery:

  • Difficulty chewing or biting food
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Chronic jaw pain
  • Excessive wearing of teeth
  • Open bite (a space between upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
  • Overbite or under-bite
  • Unbalanced facial appearance
  • Facial injury or a defect from birth

The way your facial bones develop will affect your oral health, facial appearance and proportion. The position and size of your facial bones and teeth will determine how well you bite, chew and speak.

Any of the following symptoms may indicate a need for corrective jaw surgery:

  • Difficulty chewing or biting food
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Chronic jaw pain
  • Excessive wearing of teeth
  • Open bite (a space between upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
  • Overbite or under-bite
  • Unbalanced facial appearance
  • Facial injury or a defect from birth

While the correction of the above problems will obviously lead to improved function, it may also improve the facial esthetics. Treatment of a vast majority of these conditions would require a team approach and collaboration between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon as well as other professionals such as orthodontists, prosthodontists, family dentists, and others.

During your initial consultation, your surgeon, after examination, will thoroughly discuss your condition as well as treatment options and time line of your care.

While the correction of the above problems will obviously lead to improved function, it may also improve the facial esthetics. Treatment of a vast majority of these conditions would require a team approach and collaboration between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon as well as other professionals such as orthodontists, prosthodontists, family dentists, and others.

During your initial consultation, your surgeon, after examination, will thoroughly discuss your condition as well as treatment options and time line of your care.

Insurance and Financial Considerations

The course of treatment for orthognathic surgery will involve fees that may be eligible for coverage from provincial health care or dental insurance or both.

In most cases of orthognathic surgery, the application of braces will be essential if treatment has not already commenced. The fees for your orthodontic treatment are not included in the fees for orthognathic surgery and are not eligible for OHIP benefits.

During the hospitalization for surgery, the hospital bed and nursing care as well as the surgeons’ and anesthetists’ fees will be covered by provincial health care. There are certain aspects of the surgery, however, which may not be covered. These include the removal of teeth, the excision of impacted teeth and any cosmetic procedures done adjunctively. The anesthetist as well has the privilege of billing you for that portion of the anesthetic involving the surgery that is not eligible for OHIP benefit.

Please contact our office for more information.

Please note that the fees will be billed to you directly, and private insurance may not cover all of the fees estimated.