This five-part article series explores the various kinds of jaw malocclusions there are and the surgery options that can be used to correct both the resultant cosmetic and functional challenges.

Jaw Surgery in Chicago: An Introduction

For many of us, a correct bite is something we take for granted. For the thousands of people born with malocclusions, eating, speaking and even socializing are daily challenges that can prove to be crippling. Thankfully, there is an entire field dedicated to the correction of such malformations and jaw misalignments that can, over a period of months, see symmetry restored, which has a multitude of benefits for the patient. Jaw surgery in Chicago is not only key to the restoration of proper bite functionality, enabling patients to chew comfortably and without excessive dental wear-and-tear, but it also restores far more natural facial and smile aesthetics. In this five-part article series on jaw surgery, this dual-degreed oral surgeon in Chicago Loop will provide an overview of the different kinds of malocclusions (incorrect bites) patients can present with and what his recommended surgical treatments are. We begin in this article, part 1, with a malocclusion called apertognathia, otherwise known as an 'open bite'.

Ask the Oral Surgeon in Chicago Loop: What is Apertognathia?

Dictionary Definition: "Apertognathia is an open bite deformity, a type of malocclusion characterized by premature posterior occlusion and absence of anterior occlusion."

In other words, patients with apertognathia are quite unable to fully close their mouths. The posterior (back) teeth in the mouth come together normally, but the front teeth do not (see picture below), resulting in a vertical separation between the upper and lower jaw, which accounts for the name; 'open bite'.

Apertognathia and Treatment with Jaw Surgery in Chicago

As with any kind of jaw surgery in Chicago, only patients whose jaw bone has fully matured, can receive treatment. The particular procedure generally recommended to patients presenting with apertognathia is a maxillary (upper jaw) osteotomy. In order to understand the approach this dual-degreed oral surgeon in Chicago Loop takes to the treatment of this particular malocclusion, one needs to understand what it going on beneath the skin. As we mature, additional bone tissue naturally grows above and below the teeth. In patients presenting with apertognathia, this additional bone volume only grows above the molars, leaving a significant vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth. So, instead of being an even and flat surface, says the oral surgeon in Chicago Loop, the bite is severely angled disallowing the front teeth from occluding when the patient bites down.

Challenges arising from this condition include severe difficulty eating, as well as compromised speech and smile aesthetics. The jaw surgery in Chicago used to remedy this challenging condition can involve the removal of the excess bone above the back teeth, which restores a straight and even bite, while removing the vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth. It can also involve having a combination surgery performed on both the upper and lower jaw at the same time (see picture above).

Some Notes on Jaw Surgery in Chicago

While jaw surgery in Chicago can take a matter of hours, when it comes to correcting malocclusions and abnormalities of the bone, healing is a process that takes months. Patients can generally expect to have the full functionality of their jaw back after a period of 18 to 24 months, although the tremendous results of jaw surgery in Chicago are immediately visible once the swelling has gone down.

Stay tuned for the next installment of this five-part article series on Jaw surgery in Chicago. In part 2, this dual-degreed oral surgeon in Chicago Loop shall be explaining 'prognathism' (under bite) and the surgical treatment options available.