What does an x-ray allow you to know before performing a sliding genioplasty?

Hello, thank you for your question. It is used for different purposes, can be use to look at your facial skeletal dimensions and to look at your occlusion (way that your teeth come together).

There are several types of x-rays that can be taken for chin/mandibular surgery. I will occasionally take a cone bean CT to see the shape and degree of recession of the chin in extremely recessed cases. An x-ray is not necessary prior to performing an isolated genioplasty. The procedure is performed in our office with intravenous sedation and recovery is about a week.

A simple panorex x-rays allows the surgeon to know the exact location of your mental nerve foramen and how to plan the angle of the bone cut. Because it is a cormmonly done and inexpensive x-ray it is nice to have it before surgery. But is it absolutely essential to have it to do the surgery....no. Unless there is some asymmetry and other chin shape concerns.