At his general and family dentistry practice in Lafayette, LA, Dr. T. Kirk Crane, DDS utilizes orthognathic surgery to correct a wide range of minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth. Surgery can improve chewing, speaking and breathing. While the patient's appearance may be dramatically enhanced as a result of their surgery, orthognathic surgery is performed to correct functional problems.
The definition of “orthognathic” means straight jaw. Often a patient may have orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth to achieve a healthier bite. However, there is a small group of patients that will require the expertise of the oral surgeon to help the orthodontist get the bite correct. A growth problem, traumatic injury, or pathologic process of the upper, lower or both jaws are common causes of this problem. Therefore, even if the orthodontist would get the teeth straight the bite would still not come together because the upper and lower jaw bones are not aligned. Jaw surgery can be performed entirely inside your mouth, so that no facial scars show on your chin, jaw, or around the mouth. Jaw surgery takes place in the hospital and requires a one-to-two day stay. Complete recovery at home typically takes three to six weeks.
If you have been told that your jaw is not properly aligned, give us a call to discuss your options or visit www.drcranedental.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. T. Kirk Crane, DDS in Lafayette, LA, call 337-232-3873.
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