8 min read · By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics · Bite & Alignment Issues

What jaw surgery is

Orthognathic surgery, the clinical name for jaw surgery, repositions the upper jaw, the lower jaw, or both to correct alignment problems that live in the bones rather than just the teeth. It can improve how your bite functions, how you breathe and speak, and how balanced your face looks.

Here is the key distinction. Braces and aligners are excellent at moving teeth, but they cannot change the size or position of the jawbones themselves. When the jaws are the root of the problem, surgery repositions them, and orthodontics fine-tunes the teeth around the new alignment. An orthodontist plans this hand in hand with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, so the two disciplines work as one team from the first appointment.

When it is needed

Most bite problems never require surgery. It comes into the conversation when a skeletal issue is too significant for orthodontics alone. Common reasons include:

• A severe overbite or underbite driven by jaw size or position
• An open bite where the teeth do not meet properly
• Noticeable jaw asymmetry or a receding or protruding chin
• Difficulty chewing, biting, or speaking that traces back to the jaws
• Obstructive sleep apnea linked to jaw position and a narrow airway

That last one connects to a focus of ours. Because we practice airway-focused orthodontics, we screen for how the jaws and airway relate, and jaw position is sometimes part of a larger breathing picture.

The main types of jaw surgery

Jaw surgery is not one operation. The right approach depends on which jaw is involved and what needs to change:

These are often combined. A double jaw case may include a genioplasty for harmony, for instance. The surgeon and orthodontist map out the exact plan using imaging and models before anything happens.

How the process works, step by step

Jaw surgery is almost always part of a larger orthodontic journey, not a standalone event. The typical sequence looks like this:

• Pre-surgical orthodontics. Braces first line the teeth up within each jaw, so that once the jaws are repositioned, everything fits. This phase can take several months to over a year.
• The surgery. The oral surgeon repositions the jaw or jaws and secures them, often with small plates and screws that stay in place.
• Healing and post-surgical orthodontics. After the initial healing, braces make the final refinements to the bite.
• Retention. Once everything is settled, retainers hold your new, corrected bite in place for the long term.

Because it is a team effort with several phases, the whole process commonly spans a year or two. It is a commitment, but for the right case it corrects things braces never could on their own.

Recovery and what to expect

Recovery is gradual. The first few weeks usually mean noticeable swelling and a soft or liquid diet while the jaw heals, with the most visible improvement happening over those early weeks and deeper healing continuing for months. Most people ease back into normal routines step by step, following the specific guidance their surgical team provides.

It helps to go in with realistic expectations and good support at home for the first stretch. Your orthodontist and surgeon will walk you through the timeline for your particular case, since severity and the type of surgery both shape recovery.

For authoritative background on the surgical side, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Association of Orthodontists are both reliable, non-commercial resources.

Frequently asked questions