There are a number of reasons jaw surgery might be necessary for your situation. At Richmond Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we most often recommend it for the six reasons below.

1. Nonsurgical Treatments Do Not Yield Results

If non-surgical treatments are at all possible for you, our team will try this method. However, if we find that heat and cold packs, mouthguards and medications don’t solve problems like TMJ, we can guide you toward the next step. That could possibly be jaw surgery, but we will first do comprehensive testing to determine if it is ideal for your situation.

2. You Would Like to Improve Facial Appearance

One reason patients seek jaw surgery is for the improvement in facial appearance. If you have an underbite or overbite that protrudes, it is possible to surgically move your jaw backward or forward. It might not be by a lot, but even a small fraction can make a major difference. Surgery can also be used to correct birth defects.

3. You’ve Been in an Accident

If you have been in an accident and the jaw joint was injured, sometimes surgery is the only way to repair the damage. After an accident, we can respond with immediate surgical support — get a referral or contact our office right away.

4. You Cannot Eat Normally

When you struggle to chew and find yourself avoiding most of the foods you normally love to eat, jaw alignment is clearly a major problem that’s interfering with your life. Our complete assessment will reveal the reasons for this and help us make a professional recommendation on what you should do.

5. You Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that affects a vast number of people, even though they may not realize it. When the tissues in your throat collapse, this interferes with breathing during sleep. You wake up gasping and choking and you may snore excessively too. You may have constant headaches or trouble concentrating during the day. Jaw surgery can resolve the underlying issues that are causing sleep apnea.

6. You Have Constant TMJ Pain

TMJ disorder can put stress on the entire upper body. Your neck, shoulders and back can all suffer because of your TMJ pain. If you can’t find a solution, jaw surgery might be the only recourse.

Richmond Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is a trusted provider to help you resolve jaw alignment issues, and if necessary, perform corrective jaw surgery. Contact us today to set up an assessment.

Do you need an oral surgery referral to receive care from a specialist in this field?

A referral is not necessary to be treated at Richmond Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, but it can benefit you. Getting a referral can mean that your insurance will cover treatment.

Finding the Best Oral Surgeon for You

To achieve the status of oral surgeon is no easy feat. Oral surgeons have dedicated decades to both education and clinical experience. But some qualifications put certain practices ahead of others, such as the range of procedures provided, the technological advancement of the tools used and prior proven results.

One of the benefits of getting an oral surgery referral from a qualified physician or dentist who already knows your situation is that they are well-suited to recommend a practitioner who will be right for you. This takes the burden of performing an in-depth search off you.

You Always Benefit from Comprehensive Care

Another great reason to seek out an oral surgery referral first is that you want to have your doctor or dentist involved in the process — it’s better for you long-term. They will be informed of the oral surgeon’s decisions and they’ll be able to fully communicate with them along the way, releasing necessary medical information with your consent. A team approach is better for the patient.

What Does Your Insurance Cover?

In some cases, your insurance won’t cover a procedure unless you can prove it’s medically necessary, so a referral from your doctor or dentist is necessary. Every policy is different, and whether you need to use medical or dental insurance will also dictate the need for a referral. You can call your company directly to find out more about what’s required for full coverage.

Trust Richmond Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

We are experienced with working with general dentists and physicians to provide the best care possible for our patients. We firmly believe oral surgery is a vitally important field, with no room for mistakes. We hold ourselves to high standards of excellence and are well-versed in all types of procedures, from wisdom tooth removal to jaw surgery and more.

Regardless of whether you have an oral surgery referral, feel free to contact our office at any time if you need answers to your questions or would simply like to learn more about our practice. Richmond Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is here for you.