Deformities of the Jaws and Face

The bones and teeth in a healthy jaw are a "matched set." If they come together evenly when you chew, you have a normal bite. If the relationship between your forehead, lips and chin is a pleasing one, you have a proportional appearance.

When jaws fail to grow properly, they can interfere with the alignment of the teeth, chewing, swallowing, speech and breathing.

Developmental growth abnormalities or irregularities of the jaws and face can create a malocclusion (bad bite), facial asymmetry, facial pain, TMJ Disorder, and an undesirable appearance. Treatment usually consists of "orthodontics" to straighten the teeth, and "orthognathic " surgery to straighten and correct the jaw malformation and malocclusion. Orthognathic surgery creates facial harmony, improves your appearance and the way you look to others, and the way you feel about yourself. It also improves the ability to chew, speak and breathe properly.

Conditions that may indicate treatment for Orthognathic Surgery may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Protruding jaw
• Receding chin or jaw
• Open bite (upper and lower teeth do not touch when mouth is closed)
• Chronic mouth breathing with dry mouth
• Difficulty chewing or biting food
• Speech problem
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unbalanced facial appearance
• Excessive wearing of teeth
• Chronic jaw pain
• Inability to make lips meet without effort

Dr. Karakourtis specializes in Orthognathic and Facial surgery, to correct deformities, irregularities, and growth malformations of the jaws and face, including severe malocclusion and facial asymmetry. With many years of orthognathic and reconstructive surgical experience, Dr. Karakourtis can provide expert treatment and optimum surgical results when corrective jaw and facial surgery is necessary.

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