Orthognathic Surgery
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Improve Speaking, Chewing, and Breathing
Also called corrective jaw surgery, orthognathic surgery is a life-changing procedure in which an oral and maxillofacial surgeon corrects the alignment of the jaws. As part of their training, oral surgeons like Dr. Karas and Dr. Williams, undergo extensive training in the delicate process of surgically aligning the upper and lower jaws, as well as safely administering all forms of anesthesia.
Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery in Walnut Creek, CA, is happy to work with your orthodontist or care team to ensure your jaw surgery treatment is as beneficial and successful as possible.
When To Have Corrective Jaw Surgery
Dr. Karas and Dr. Williams will work with your dentist and/or orthodontist to determine whether orthognathic surgery is needed to correct oral health issues. You or your child may require jaw surgery if you experience any of the following:
- Chronic jaw pain, TMJ disorders, or headaches
- An open bite where your upper and lower teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed
- Birth defects
- Facial trauma
- Inability to make the lips touch
- Difficulty biting, chewing, or swallowing
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Excessive teeth wear
- Protruding jaw or receding chin
Orthognathic Surgery Procedure
During your first visit, Dr. Karas or Dr. Williams will take detailed 3D images of your teeth and facial structures. We offer several anesthesia and sedation options for your comfort during any procedure, although patients will undergo general anesthesia during jaw surgery.
Prior to surgery, you will wear braces to move your teeth into their proper positions. The surgery itself will last for several hours, depending on the complexity of your condition.
Dr. Karas or Dr. Williams may need to add, reshape, or take away bone. Surgical plates and screws will secure the jaws in their new locations. Some cases require incisions from the outside of the mouth, in which case we minimize the appearance of any possible scarring.
Your recovery is crucial to the overall success of your procedure, and our office provides detailed post-operative instructions that will explain everything you need to know. If you ever have questions about your treatment at any stage, please contact our office. Our skilled staff is happy to help.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Orthognathic Surgery and other procedures.
"When I first walked into the practice, I felt refreshed. It's a very new and modern environment and everybody was really welcoming at the front desk. Dr. Karas for me from the moment I met him just made me feel like family. Very warm, very professional."
"The staff here are fun. They are extremely kind and extremely caring, and you can tell that they care for every patient that comes through the door. My experience here was absolutely amazing. I have a healthy smile now and it’s all thanks to Dr. Karas and his team. "
" Everyone here was just so welcoming and understanding about this whole process. Dr. Karas is very composed and [is] such a professional. Dr. Karas makes me feel so comfortable every time I see him. This surgery has been life-changing. I eat and chew so much better now. My confidence has skyrocketed, and I just feel more free to be myself."
Dr. Cynthia Stephenson
Walnut Creek
"I really respect and appreciate the fact that Dr. Karas is an MD. He's up-to-date with all the latest techniques, and he's really committed to what he does, and he really is committed to being the best he can be, and it shows in his care. I will continue to refer my patients to Dr. Karas."
"When I first met Dr. Karas, I was impressed by his knowledge and the fact that he had seen every scenario when it had came to wisdom teeth. I felt very welcomed and like I was in good hands, that he knew he was doing, and he clearly answered all my questions. "
"When I first met Dr. Karas, I was very impressed. He was friendly. He was direct, explained everything that he was going to do before he did it."
"Dr. Karas' staff has always been very professional, very helpful, very welcoming. Dr. Karas is a very open and very friendly doctor. He has been very thorough in his explanations of what he's doing."
"When I first walked into the practice, it was check you in, sit down, and in a few minutes, you're seeing the doctor. Dr. Karas exudes confidence and makes you feel comfortable throughout the entire procedure. Recovery was quick. I, at this point, couldn't even tell you which teeth are implants and which ones aren't implants."
"When I came in here—meeting with the staff and everybody in the office, I knew I had made the right choice. Dr. Karas always gives the explanation that gives confidence to me in what the result will be."
How Can We Help You?
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