There are also external causes for relapse, such as displacement of the plates caused by trauma, and causes inherent to the patient, such as poor healing capacity, bone weakness or TMJ disorders, which cause a greater degree of occlusal instability in the patients who suffer from them.
Short-term relapse occurs in the immediate post-operative period, and is most often due to surgical planning/model surgery errors, intra- operative surgical errors, or wound healing problems.
The relapse rate was 21% among patients who had undergone upper-jaw surgery versus 27% among those who had undergone lower-jaw surgery, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: The majority of patients exhibited stable treatment outcomes.
The rate of complications after orthognathic surgery is more than 40%; therefore, it is important that patients receive a detailed explanation on the complications related to orthognathic surgery before they decide to undergo the procedure5.
Jaw Surgeries Can Relapse As Well
A systematic review conducted in 2010 found that up to 60 percent of patients who have had orthognathic surgery can experience relapse over the long-term. Researchers agree that “muscular forces” are the primary drivers in orthognathic surgery relapse.
Initial jaw healing typically takes about six weeks after surgery, but complete healing can take up to 12 weeks.
Benefits of Corrective Jaw Surgery
While treatment, which may include surgery and orthodontic treatment, may take several years to complete, your results will last a lifetime.
Jaw surgery is a major surgery that can disrupt your life for several weeks and months.
Although an existing posibility, cases of permanent numbness for orthognathic surgery are rare (around 10% according to scientific literature).
Conditions that may Need Double Jaw Surgery:
Difficulty chewing or biting food. Difficulty swallowing. Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache. Excessive wear on the teeth.
Sensation is expected to return 2-6 months after surgery. A numb feeling in the upper gums and roof of your mouth may persist after surgery. Numbness of the lower lip and chin is also expected after lower jaw surgery. Recovery of sensation may take 12 months.
The most stable orthognathic procedure is superior repositioning of the maxilla, closely followed by mandibular advancement in patients in whom anterior facial height is maintained or increased. (If facial height is decreased by upward rotation of the chin, stability is compromised).
Numbness: If you have had lower jaw and/or chin surgery, your bottom lip will be numb and tingly after the operation. This is similar to the sensation you might feel after having an injection at the dentist. About one in 10 people will have some tingling or numbness that can last several weeks.
When do you perform jaw surgery? Often, the optimal time for jaw surgery is after the jaw stops growing, usually in the later teenage years—typically ages 17 to 21 for boys and ages 14 to 16 for girls.
Jaw surgery is usually not painful.
This misconception makes the whole procedure seem utterly invasive and is supported by thousands of photos of bruised and swollen people after undergoing orthognathic surgery, so it may be difficult to believe that very few patients report actual pain.
Initial healing can be observed in the jaw over the course of 6 to 8 weeks, but you should allow your body to recover at a safe pace, allowing up to 4 months.
Jaw Surgery costs in Melbourne
The cost of orthodontic treatment in Australia could range from $7000 to $10000 for orthodontic/braces treatment only. A single jaw surgery (upper or lower jaw) could cost up to $6000 to $10000.
Medicare and insurance might cover orthognathic surgery in Australia. If you are getting jaw correction surgery to treat a functional disorder (e.g. sleep apnoea, chewing difficulty, speech problems, etc.) then it may be considered as a medical necessity.
Corrective Jaw Surgery Risks
Risks include infection, bleeding or the need for further surgery to improve or adjust a result. While patients frequently feel numbness or tingling in various areas of their face and mouth after surgery, the sensation usually goes away as the swelling subsides.
You must avoid hot, prolonged showers which may cause bleeding in the upper jaw if surgery is performed there. Avoid exercises, any heavy lifting or activity that raises your blood pressure or pulse for at least one month after the surgery.
For the first 3-4 days following surgery please limit your activity. It is important that you not confine yourself to bed.
As odd as it sounds, you don't feel it – I promise! If anything, your faces feels a little bit heavier than usual, but you get used to that within a couple of hours. You honestly don't even feel the metal because they're too far up.
Possible long-term complications of orthognathic surgery include: TMJ disorders. Permanent nerve damage, resulting in loss of sensation in areas that may include the chin, nose, lips, cheeks or tongue. Poor cosmetic outcome.