Corrective jaw surgery in Westchester and New York City

Jaws can grow unevenly, or end up out of position after an injury or a condition present from birth. Common signs include:

• An underbite, overbite, open bite or crossbite
• Trouble chewing, biting or swallowing
• Lips that don't close without strain
• A receding chin or a protruding lower jaw
• A face that looks uneven from the front or side
• Mouth breathing or sleep apnea tied to jaw position
• Excess tooth wear, or jaw pain linked to the bite
• Chronic jaw joint pain and headaches

If only the teeth are out of place, braces can fix the bite. When the jaws themselves are out of position, moving the teeth can't fully correct it, and surgery moves the bone instead.

Jaw surgery is usually done once facial growth has finished, typically in the late teens or later. Your orthodontist and surgeon decide together whether surgery is needed and when.

1. Visit

   Consultation

   An exam, photos and X-rays, and a conversation about your goals with you and your orthodontist.

2. Braces

   Orthodontics before surgery

   Your orthodontist lines up the teeth on each jaw so they fit together once the jaws are moved. This can take from about six months to a few years.

3. Planning

   3D surgical planning

   A CT scan and dental scans feed virtual surgical planning, which maps each movement in advance and produces custom splints used during surgery.

4. Surgery

   Surgery day

   Surgery is done in the hospital under general anesthesia, usually followed by a 1–2 night stay.

5. Finish

   Orthodontics after surgery

   Your orthodontist fine-tunes the bite, then you switch to a retainer.

First few days

Swelling is at its peak, usually around day two or three. You start on liquids, and pain is managed with medication. A humidifier and nasal spray help with congestion.

Weeks 1–6

Your diet moves to soft and puréed foods, and elastics may guide the bite. Many people return to school or desk work within two to three weeks.

About 6 weeks

Initial bone healing is complete. Most people go back to a regular diet and normal activity once cleared.

Months 3–12

Remaining swelling fades. Numbness in the lip or chin is common after lower jaw surgery and usually improves over several months. Complete healing takes about 9–12 months.