What Are Options for an Adult with a Small Jaw to Improve Profile and Bite?
asked 2 years ago by Christina Chattanooga
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 509 times
Tags: jaw, overbite
When I was 25 yrs old, I went to an orthodontist to ask for treatment options for what I thought was an overbite. He said that my top teeth are straight but that my lower jaw is to small. He also pointed out that I have both mandibular and palatal tori but didn't mention how this might effect treatment. What are options to improve my facial profile, improve my bite, reduce jaw pain from having a poor bite, and not break the bank?
2 answers to What Are Options for an Adult with a Small Jaw to Improve Profile and Bite?
+1
Short jaw
First, you probably need special x-rays of your face to performn cephalometrics. This is a way for the surgeon to evalutate the proportions of your face. You may need a chin advancement in combination with a jaw advancement using a sagittal split osteotomy.
+1
Overbite and options for correction of a small jaw (micrognathia)
Unfortunately most options are costly but may be partially covered by some insurance plans. Your best choice for long term correction is likely to be either a Sagittal Split Osteotomy with Mandibular advancement or Distraction Osteogenesis. I know that sounds like a bunch of gobbledy gook so I would go to a qualified oral surgeon to discuss your options.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
