3 Benefits of Jaw Realignment Surgery
Has your child’s orthodontist talked to you about your child having jaw realignment surgery done? The idea of having surgery done anywhere on your child’s face may have you feeling a little uneasy, but sometimes it’s necessary. As it turns out, your child can enjoy multiple benefits from a successful jaw realignment surgery.
Better Digestion
When the jaw is properly aligned, it allows the teeth to meet better. This facilitates optimal bite function, allowing your child to chew their food more thoroughly. Depending on the severity of the condition, correcting the jaw alignment through surgery could allow them to enjoy foods they previously couldn’t because they weren’t able to chew them effectively. Chewing is one of the very first steps in the digestion process. Doing so more effectively allows the body to break down food and absorb nutrients better.
Healthier Teeth
Teeth wear down over time. Part of this is due to the pressure the teeth exert on each other. When the jaw is poorly aligned, that pressure isn’t distributed as evenly as it should be. This causes the teeth to wear unevenly and can compromise their health. By realigning the jaw through surgery, that pressure becomes distributed more evenly. That should distribute pressure more evenly across the teeth and reduce their risk of becoming cracked or chipped due to excessive pressure.
Improved Self Confidence
Did you know that jaw alignment impacts face shape? If your child feels self-conscious about the shape of their jaw, correcting it with jaw realignment surgery could help them feel more confident in their appearance. It’s not all about looks though. Even speech can be improved through jaw realignment surgery. The placement of the jaw, and therefore the teeth as well, plays a part in being able to speak clearly and pronounce words properly. The improved clarity of speech could also improve your child’s self-confidence since they’ll be better able to communicate effectively with their peers.
If your child’s orthodontist brings up the idea of them having jaw realignment surgery done, don’t be afraid to discuss it. You may ultimately decide that it’s not the route you want to take, but your child does stand to gain if you decide to go through with it. Involve your child in the discussion too. The more they understand about the process, the reasons why, and what the outcomes could be, the more comfortable they’ll feel about it too.
Do you have questions about surgical orthodontics? Maccaro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry has answers. Click here to learn more about surgical orthodontics today!