Orthognathic Surgery
Improve Your Jaw and Facial Appearance
Most people who seek orthodontic treatment want to accomplish a few goals. In general, many people just want their teeth to look good, and your orthodontist wants that as well. The orthodontist, however, also wants the teeth to fit together well or improve your occlusion. Orthodontists have a defined area to work, namely the anatomic limitations of the jaws.
Sometimes a patient’s bite is off, not only because the teeth are in the wrong position, but also the relationship of the underlying jaws is misaligned. The jaw discrepancies and subsequent malocclusions will lead to difficulty eating certain foods and can lead to long term wear on teeth since the teeth are not properly aligned. In these circumstances, orthognathic surgery may be an option.
Orthognathic Surgery Treatment Options
The normal sequence of treatment in these cases starts with the orthodontist who will try to align your teeth directly over the jaws. Many times, a patient’s bite will worsen during this preoperative phase. Once the orthodontist has completed the presurgical phase, the surgery is performed.
The surgery itself may involve addressing the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or a combination of the two. In essence, the jaws are moved into a more favorable relationship with one another and the surrounding bony structures. This procedure is typically performed in a hospital setting and requires 1-2 weeks of downtime.
Once a patient has healed from the surgery (usually 6-8 weeks), they will return to their orthodontist who will complete the postsurgical phase of treatment. This usually lasts another 6 months depending on the circumstances. Orthognathic surgery can be used in these circumstances, but also may be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in severe cases.
Overbite/Underbite Correction
Common types of surgery to correct underbites and overbites include reshaping to lengthen the upper jaw or shorten the lower jaw. In select cases, the use of wires, plates, or screws may be required to maintain the proper shape of the jawbone.
Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Many surgeries exist for the management of OSA including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, nasal septoplasty, uvulopharyngopalatoplasty, and many others. One of the surgical options is maxillomandibular advancement. In this procedure, both upper and lower jaws are repositioned in a more forward relationship which ultimately increases the volume of the airway in three dimensions to lessen or even eliminate any airway obstruction during sleep.
Coordinated Care for Your Needs
You can be confident in the care provided at Knoxville Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to always put your best interest at the forefront.
Contact our practice online or reach out at (865) 240-2977 to learn more about our surgical procedures for the misalignment of the jaw and severe sleep apnea.
Testimonials From Our Patients
We are proud to be able to provide our patients with access to first-rate surgical care, cutting-edge procedures, and an overall outstanding experience.
Dr. Emery did a fantastic job in providing tooth extraction and replacement with a dental implant. I had been anxious and he relieved my concerns immediately. He and his team provided a relatively pain-free experience and were available to answer all my questions quickly and professionally. I was so pleased with them that I took my daughter to Dr. Emery for her wisdom teeth extraction. We were both surprised at how well her pain had been managed and she never had to use opioids! If we need oral surgery again, we know where to go! Thank you, Dr. Emery, Dawn, Amanda, Meghan, Hannah, Wendy, and all the others!
- Lea Alexander
Painless procedures and quick recoveries. Couldn’t be more pleased. Highly recommend these oral surgeons.
- Robin Hutchins
Dr. Emery and his staff are so amazing. They really go the extra mile to make you comfortable and Dr. Emery’s bedside manner is like none I’ve ever seen before! He’s one of those doctors you hope you don’t have to go back to, but will be the ONLY one I do go to if it’s ever needed again. My only complaint is that he’s not in general dentistry because i wouldn’t be so terrified to go to a dentist if it was him. Great guy, great staff, great atmosphere!
- Allison Fritz
Awesome Staff, Excellent Doctors, Great Prices! Turned a ‘bad day’ into great experience! Been there twice- almost 2 years apart. Rock solid and highly recommended!
- Max Zimmerman
- Kenny Miller
- Kari Hester
Our Office Locations
We have two office locations in Knoxville, TN.
West Knoxville Location
6207 Highland Pl Way, Ste 207
Knoxville, TN 37919
Directions
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: (865) 584-6207
North Knoxville Location
2939 Essary Dr, Ste 1
Knoxville, TN 37918
Directions
Hours:
Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: (865) 240-2977