If you've been diagnosed with prognathism, you may be happy to finally have a name for the abnormality in your jaw structure. Prognathism, where the bottom jaw extends out past the upper jaw, is not entirely uncommon. Some cases are really minor, while others are more serious. If yours tends towards the more serious side, your dentist may suggest surgery to correct this. Surgery works well for many, but it is not for everyone. Here are some pros and cons to consider before you decide whether to have oral surgery.
Pro: Oral surgery will permanently correct your prognathism
Without surgery, this will be something you have to deal with for the rest of your life. There are other tactics you can use to reduce and manage it, such as orthodontics, but they do not correct it fully. Oral surgery is usually a one-and-done procedure. Once you recover, your jaw will be properly aligned, and you won't have to worry about it again.
Con: Surgery comes with a relatively tough recovery
This is one of the harder surgeries to recover from since you'll have bones that need to heal. You'll need to keep your jaw immobile for several weeks, if not longer, and you'll need to eat a liquid diet for a while before progressing to a soft diet. Not everyone is willing to go through this recovery process.
Pro: Oral surgery is quite well-established for this procedure
This is not a new or experimental oral surgery. It is an established process and a rather straightforward one that dental surgeons have been performing for years. So, while the recovery is painful, the surgery almost always goes smoothly and the results are quite predictable. It's also not hard to find oral surgeons that perform this procedure, so you can get several quotes and shop around if preferred.
Con: Oral surgery is not always covered by insurance
Sometimes health or dental insurance covers oral surgery, and other times, it does not. Some insurance policies consider this a cosmetic procedure, and your dentist may have to appeal and explain how your jaw shape affects your health and ability to eat in order to get the surgery covered. Not everyone is up for this hassle, and sometimes, insurance companies still reject the appeal.
If you struggle with prognathism, surgery is something to consider. The recovery can be challenging, but many feel the end results are worth it. Talk to a medical clinic, such as Lighthouse Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, to discuss if this surgery is right for you.
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