Single Jaw

Upper jaw surgery is most commonly a Le Fort Osteotomy. This is a surgical technique that moves the upper jaw in three dimensional space.  The surgery either moves the upper jaw to the lower teeth position (single jaw surgery) or into a three dimensional position to optimize form and function of the face.

Surgery on the upper jaw may be performed to correct:

• Significantly receded or protruding upper jaw
• Crossbite
• Too much or too little teeth showing
• Open bite
• Reduced facial growth of the middle of the face (midfacial hypoplasia)

Your surgeon cuts the bone above your teeth so that the entire top jaw – including the roof of your mouth and your upper teeth – can move as one unit. The jaw and upper teeth are moved forward until they fit properly with the lower teeth. This can be planned on a computer to determine if additional work, such as orthodontics, will be needed to help correct any remaining fit difference.

An open bite occurs when excess bone grows above the molars, causing what’s normally a flat, even surface, to become angles. To fix this, excess bone is removed or shaved away. Once the jaw is realigned, plates and screws hold the bone in its new position.