A wide variety of dental procedures are becoming more and more common today. In fact, about three million people already have dental implants, and 500,000 more people become dental implant patients every year. But one of the more complex dental procedures is jaw surgery. To ease some common concerns about jaw surgery procedures, this article is going to answer some frequently asked questions.

Is jaw surgery safe? Like all other dental surgeries, jaw surgery procedures are completely safe. This surgery is typically done to adjust the alignment and position of the jaws in order to improve the function of the jaws. Jaw surgery patients are put under a general anesthetic for the procedure, so they don’t feel anything during the procedure. An experienced oral surgeon will perform the procedure.

Are there different types of jaw surgery? There are several different types of jaw surgery, including upper jaw surgery, lower jaw surgery, chin surgery, jaw widening surgery, and more. All these types of surgery aim to fix different issues — common issues fixed with jaw surgery range from a chin that is too far back to bite problems to the asymmetry of the jaws.

What does the recovery period involve? While the recovery period can vary depending on the type of surgery, most jaw procedures require quite a bit of time to recover. The face may be bruised and swollen for the first few days, but patients should be able to return to their normal routines within a month. Diet plays a big role in the recovery process, with patients needing to eat soft foods.

Will the shape of the face change after surgery? Most jaw surgeries do change the appearance and shape of the face. Whether it’s moving the chin forward or back or making the jaws more symmetrical, patients should begin to see the changes in their face within a few days as the swelling lessens.

Can jaw surgery fix sleep issues? There are some jaw procedures that can help with sleep problems. Moving the upper jaw forward can help with issues like sleep apnea and snoring. This is because this procedure can help increase the size of the airway between the nose and throat, improving breathing.

Jaw surgery procedures are more extensive than other dental procedures, like dental implants or wisdom teeth removal. But the results are positive and can help improve the appearance and function of one or both jaws.