Jaw Surgery

Our surgeons at Cascade Oral & Facial Surgery perform corrective jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, to correct a wide range of skeletal irregularities resulting in the misalignment of a patient’s teeth and jaws. While most jaw discrepancies are genetic in origin, facial trauma and TMJ disease are other frequent causes.  Orthodontics is frequently able to correct mild to moderate jaw misalignment, while surgery is favored in more severe cases.  The goal of corrective jaw surgery is ultimately to restore ideal function to the jaws with natural alignment of the teeth, but this is typically accompanied by better esthetic harmony of the face. 

Conditions that may benefit from orthognathic surgery include:

• Unbalanced facial appearance
• Open bite
• Weak or protruding chin
• Difficulty chewing or biting down on food
• Impaired speech
• Dental crowding
• Sleep apnea

Our surgeons will work with patients to determine the best treatment options for their unique case and provide them the information needed to understand the process from consultation to surgery to recovery. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is orthognathic surgery covered by medical insurance?

Every individual carrier plan is different, but many insurance companies do cover orthognathic surgery.  Our office will help advocate for you and navigate the insurance process.

Where is surgery performed?

Our surgeons operate out of Providence St. Vincent Medical Center as well as a credentialed surgery center.  Most patients go home the same day of surgery or stay 1 night for recovery.

How long before I can eat normal food following surgery?

The typical surgical window of healing is 6 weeks, although patients are monitored carefully throughout that period, gradually advancing diets under careful supervision.  Most patients are only on a strict liquid diet for 2-4 weeks.