Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

lower jaw problems after upper jaw surgery

(3 posts)
  • Started 5 months ago by shadowlilly
  • Latest reply from Dcg22
  • 1 Members Subscribed To Topic

  1. shadowlilly
    Member

    Several years ago and maxillofacial reconstructive surgery on my upper jaw, nose, cheekbones etc. Due to an accident in childhood those portions of my face were severely under grown resulting in a severe underbite. The upper jaw, nose and cheekbones, were all brought forward and held in place by pins and brackets. I am completely healed, but I find my bottom jaw pushing out to be an underbite again. i do it in my sleep as well which causes great pain. My bite is still good, but it seems like my bottom jaw notices the change, and is trying to go back, is this normal? or does anyone have any solutions?

    Posted 5 months ago #

  2. coffeecups
    Member

    When you say 'pushing out'... you mean you're jutting your lower jaw forward? You'd probably have to wear some sort of retainer/elastics to help retrain your facial muscles. You should just see your ortho for advice, it could be anything.

    Posted 5 months ago #

  3. Dcg22
    Member

    This is very strange since you didnt have surgery on your lower jaw. Your lower jaw muscle movements shouldn't have changed at all. so its not "trying to go back" because it should be the same as before. hmmm....well first of all im guessing you had a lefort 3 if they brought the cheekbones forward as well. that shouldn't affect lower jaw muscle movement though. Its possible that because of the under developed upper jaw, your lower jaw rotated up further (which it tends to do in this case). When they moved your upper jaw forward, your lower jaw could have rotated downward. Therefore, your jaw is jutting forward in an effort to try and rotate upwards. Since your lower jaw was not broken and moved, its not going to move at all unless you continued to grow after your surgery. When did you get the surgery? If you are a guy and had the surgery before 21 or if your a girl and had the surgery before 18, then your growth since the surgery could be a reason.

    Posted 5 months ago #

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