Do you have a malocclusion – such as an overbite, underbite crossbite or openbite that cannot be resolved with braces or other orthodontic treatment? Perhaps you’ve been told by your orthodontist or dentist that your issue stems from misaligned or mismatched jaws? If so, you’ve probably also been told that surgery is the only effective option for correcting the aesthetic and functional issues that result from that condition – called a skeletal malocclusion. Of course, not everyone who has a skeletal malocclusion decides to have surgery. However, those that do generally find that the results, in terms of appearance and well-being, are very worthwhile. So why should you consider cosmetic jaw surgery in Singapore?
Your Jaw Problem Significantly Affects Your Appearance
Skeletal malocclusions can cause aesthetic issues that range from very mild changes in a person’s appearance to serious facial disfigurement. For instance, individuals with a moderate to severe underbite may have a lower jaw that appears elongated or a chin that juts out awkwardly, or overbite can make the upper teeth abnormally prominent and commonly causes a markedly recessed chin. While these issues may be, in some cases, primarily cosmetic ones, they can have a huge impact on your quality of life, affecting self-esteem and confidence, which, in turn, can seriously affect social and/or professional success. If you feel self-conscious or embarrassed about your appearance to the point that it is affecting your emotional health and well-being, you should consider cosmetic jaw surgery in Singapore – because those aesthetic issues you’re facing are about much more than just appearances.
You’re Suffering Functional Problems Due To Your Misaligned Jaws
Is your skeletal malocclusion causing problems with the way you speak, causing you to lisp, mispronounce words or spray saliva while speaking? Do you have trouble chewing or biting foods, making eating a chore? These are very common problems with misaligned or mismatched jaws – ones that can be corrected by jaw surgery, as jaws are moved into proper alignment to ensure that teeth meet properly.
To Prevent Future Complications
Left untreated, malocclusion can cause a variety of long-term complications, even in individuals who do not have pronounced functional issues. These can include excessive and uneven tooth wear, which often leads to dental decay, tooth loss and gum disease. Chronic headaches and jaw pain are also common, as is the development of jaw disorders, such as TMJ. Jaw surgery is often recommended in cases of skeletal malocclusion to prevent the development of these complications.
Whether one or all of these reasons apply to you, the decision to have cosmetic jaw surgery is a very personal one, and should be made after a thorough evaluation by a Singapore oral and maxillofacial surgeon. After that examination, your surgeon will be able to outline the benefits you can expect from cosmetic jaw surgery as well as the potential risks in your particular case, factors that should be weighed carefully in order to make solid, well-informed decisions about your care.
