Orthognathic Surgery Recovery: What Patients Can Expect
Posted on 5/9/2022 by Pacific Maxillofacial Center |
 Also known as corrective jaw surgery, orthognathic surgery helps correct severe jaw malocclusion or misalignment that cannot be sufficiently corrected with orthodontics alone. When you are recommended to undergo orthognathic surgery, it may indicate that you have significant skeletal abnormalities besides a dental malocclusion. Before you receive orthognathic surgery, you may want to know what to expect thereafter.
Activities to Avoid After Receiving the Surgery
Once you undergo corrective jaw surgery, you need to avoid consuming solid foods. These can hurt the wound. Also, traditional brushing and brushing prove difficult considering the amount of work performed. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon will provide special instructions for keeping your teeth and gums clean. You also want to avoid strenuous activities. If you smoke or use tobacco products, you should avoid them because they can impact the healing and recovery process.
Common Side Effects
After undergoing orthognathic surgery, you may experience side effects such as pain, discomfort, swelling, bruising, and soreness. You may also display side effects like drooling, oral and nasal bleeding, sore throat, fatigue, grogginess, jaw and muscle spasms, or even numbness of the lips, cheeks, and chin.
Diet after Corrective Jaw Surgery
Your gums, teeth, and jaw are highly sensitive to pain as well as discomfort. Therefore, you will need to adjust your diet. You may have to consume a liquid diet often administered through a straw or a syringe. The surgeon will provide recommendations regarding the diet to adapt at this time and how to feed. You will be able to slowly reintroduce solid foods into your diet, month by month. At first, you will start with soft foods that don't need much chewing. You will work back to chunky, crunchy, or chewy solids after you are fully healed.
Addressing Pain and Discomfort
You may have to use cold compresses or ice packs to reduce swelling, pain, and bruising. Get someone around you to help you and provide the support you need as you continue healing. To find out what corrective jaw surgery entails and what to expect after the treatment, contact our Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery team for more information.
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