What procedure would fix an asymmetric/tilted jaw and chin?

Question

I'm trying to figure out how to make my jaw more symmetrical. I had braces two years ago and continue to wear retainers, so my teeth are straight, but my bottom jaw is tilted and is significantly bigger on one side than the other. My chin also seems to be off center towards the side with the smaller jaw. I think perhaps I may have an occlusal cant? What procedure or treatment would help fix this?

Michael P. Morrissette, DDS, FACS · Answer

If you want to repair the cant, you will need orthognathic surgery of both jaws. If you are comfortable with your bite, then I would recommend a genioplasty to fix your asymmetric chin. This procedure will not change your bite and recovery is 3-5 days. In order to make the jawline more symmetrical, you would need a custom jawline implant.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Presuming you have a good bite and can live with the occlusal cant then a custom jawline implant is needed to provide the symmetry correction. (camouflage approach) Otherwise upper and lower jaw surgery (bimaxillary procedure) is needed to shift the complete maxillomandibular skeletal complex (up on left and down on right) to make the symmetry improvement. (root cause approach) It all depends how complete you want the correction to be (with or without the occlusal cant) and how much far you are willing to go for the improvement. (camouflage vs base correction)

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

100% of people have facial asymmetry as the norm. The human mind is accustomed to seeing facial asymmetry as normal and for that reason seeing a purely symmetrical face has an awkward strange and abnormal look. You can look at computer-generated symmetrical faces with a simple Internet search and see for yourself. Your degree of facial asymmetry is no more than the average person. The fundamental asymmetry is skeletal and trying to manipulate it with soft tissue manipulation will only create two asymmetries. I highly recommend leaving this alone and not spending so much time looking in the mirror.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

What procedure would fix an asymmetric/tilted jaw and chin?

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What procedure would fix an asymmetric/tilted jaw and chin?

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Genioplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.