How Much Does Jaw Surgery Cost?
Jaw surgery costs $17,425 on average, according to 231 reviews from RealSelf members. However, the cost of a complex cosmetic, reconstructive, or corrective double jaw surgery (aka orthognathic surgery) can range up to $53,000.
Read on to find out why you might end up paying more or less than the average cost of jaw surgery, and whether actual patients say it's really worth the money.
Is jaw surgery covered by health insurance?
Corrective jaw surgery is covered by most health insurance plans if you can provide medical documentation of a functional problem resulting from a misaligned jaw and meet any other criteria set out by your insurance provider.
“Your surgeon's office will assist you in getting pre-authorization from the insurance company four to six weeks prior to surgery,” says New York City oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Majid Jamali.
Jaw surgery that's performed primarily for cosmetic purposes and isn't considered medically necessary, so insurance won't cover the cost.
What's included in the cost of jaw surgery?
Jaw surgery cost quotes should include:
- the initial consultation
- pre-op lab work
- fees for X-rays and molds of your teeth and mouth
- the surgeon's fee
- anesthesia fees
- facility fees
- materials (including the screws and plates used to fix the jaw in place)
- follow-up care
It does not include additional costs for orthodontic treatment, which is often not covered by dental insurance (unless you have plan with orthodontic coverage).
Keep in mind that patients are advised to take a minimum of two weeks off from work for jaw surgery recovery, but you may need up to six weeks of downtime if your surgery is very complex, or you're slow to heal.
If you don't have enough paid time off to cover it, factor this time off work into the overall cost of your procedure.
RealSelf Tip: For most people, the first step in correcting a misaligned jaw is orthodontic treatment with braces (average cost: $4,800) or Invisalign (average cost: $4,975).
Having properly aligned teeth makes aligning your bite by repositioning the jawbone far easier for your oral surgeon and dramatically improves results.
Usually, braces remain on the teeth during jaw surgery and for several months afterward. This allows the surgeon to keep the jaws together and stable as you heal. (Learn more about jaw surgery recovery.)
This step is often essential to a good jaw surgery result, but it can add significantly to your treatment timeline and total price tag.
What impacts the cost of jaw surgery?
Several factors influence the price of jaw surgery, including:
1) The complexity of your procedure.
Some patients need double jaw surgery, involving both their upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible), while others only need their upper or lower jaw moved into a new position. As you can imagine, double jaw surgery costs far more than having a single jaw repositioned.
You can expect your price quote to come in at the higher end of the range if your double jaw surgery is particularly complex or time-consuming. For example, in some situations, the surgeon has to transplant bone from the rib or hip to lengthen the jaw.
Some people also choose to combine jaw surgery with complementary facial plastic surgery procedures, such as rhinoplasty (average cost: $7,700). Orthognathic surgery can impact the appearance of the nose, so performing both procedures at the same time can lead to a better cosmetic result.
Chin surgery (aka genioplasty) or chin liposuction can also be performed at the same time as jaw surgery, to create a more defined chin and jawline.
Each additional procedure adds to your total bill, but you may be able to save money by combining them in one operation vs. having each procedure separately. That's because you'd only have one charge for the facility, the anesthesiologist, and some of the supplies. Your surgeon may also discount their fee for each additional procedure.
Another bonus: you'd only have to endure one recovery time, reducing your total time away from work.
2) Your provider's credentials and level of experience.
Cosmetic or corrective jaw surgery is typically performed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These highly trained providers have dual degrees in both medicine and dentistry.
Surgeons with more experience—10 years or more—performing complex and demanding orthognathic surgery to correct jaw misalignment are likely to charge more for their services.
Why is it worth it to see an experienced surgeon? Repositioning the jaws so that the teeth meet correctly can not only improve functional problems with the jaw joints (including issues with chewing, speech, breathing, and sleep apnea) and alleviate chronic joint pain from TMJ—it can also significantly change your facial appearance, for better or worse.
To be sure you're on the same page as your surgeon in terms of the desired result, study their style and approach by reviewing their gallery of before and after photos, as well as patient reviews.
Correcting oral and maxillofacial surgery gone wrong is costly and technically tricky. It's most cost-effective in the long run to choose a doctor who's likely to get it right the first time, even if their surgeon's fee is a bit higher than the one you're quoted by a surgeon with less of a track record.
It's always a good idea to consult with at least two (and ideally three) qualified surgeons and request an all-in price quote before you make your decision.
3) Where your surgery takes place.
During your consultation, ask if your surgery would be performed in a hospital or a private outpatient oral surgery center. Hospitals tend to charge higher facility fees, so if you're paying out-of-pocket (and won't be having a complex procedure), look for a surgeon who operates in an outpatient surgery center.
Surgical procedures like this one also usually cost more in major metro areas, which have a higher cost of living. Even the neighborhood and how nice the facility looks can play a role. So if you're willing to expand your search beyond your immediate area, look for qualified surgeons who are operating outside high-rent areas. They may have less overhead to pass on to patients.
4) The number of days you need to spend in the hospital.
Jaw surgery is usually performed in a hospital or surgery center under general anesthesia. Depending on how extensive your surgery is, your provider may have you spend one or more nights in a recovery facility, so your vitals can be monitored.
Even extending a hospital stay by one night can add significantly to your facility fee.
Is the cost of jaw surgery worth the money?
RealSelf members give corrective jaw surgery a 82% Worth It Rating, based on recent reviews.
Many reviewers say that the surgery has been life-changing, significantly improving their ability to breathe, speak, and eat and boosting their confidence.
The procedure can successfully treat malocclusions (aka bite problems like underbites, overbites, and open bites), functional issues (difficulty swallowing, chewing, or biting food), obstructive sleep apnea, chronic jaw or joint pain, and an unbalanced facial appearance, including a protruding jaw or receding chin.
However, the reviewers who said it was "Not Worth It" were disappointed with their results, pointing to poor aesthetic outcomes and long-lasting complications, such as nerve injury and persistent pain.
The recovery process can also be long and painful. One recent analysis of 30 studies found that overall satisfaction rates with orthognathic surgery exceeded 85%, but it also found dissatisfaction related to the information patients received prior to surgery about post-operative discomfort and recovery.
If you're considering jaw surgery, don't underestimate the difficulty of the post-operative period. Many surgeons will wire teeth shut (or stabilize them with orthodontic rubber bands) for six weeks, which necessitates a liquid diet, followed by another six weeks of soft foods.
Your activity will also be limited for 5–6 months, while your bones heal. You may also require post-surgical orthodontic treatment for another 4-6 months.
More than many other types of surgery, jaw surgery can really be a journey, so be sure to do your homework and choose an experienced surgeon who will care for you every step of the way.