Does insurance cover jaw surgery?

Orthognathic surgery is often covered by insurance if a functional problem can be documented, assuming there are no exclusions for jaw surgery on your insurance plan. A surgeon’s cost for jaw surgery may vary based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used, as well as geographic office location.

Is getting jaw surgery worth it?

The process of getting Jaw Surgery is seemingly a long one, but well worth it in the end. Patients who have had jaw surgery are thrilled about their new and improved smile and overall confidence.

What is the average cost for jaw surgery?

How Much Does Jaw Surgery Cost? The cost of jaw surgery ranges from $20,000 to $40,000. Surgery to correct temporomandibular joint dysfunction can cost up to $50,000.

How safe is jaw surgery?

Jaw surgery is generally safe when done by an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon, often in collaboration with an orthodontist. Risks of surgery may include: Blood loss. Infection.

Does jaw surgery change your lips?

Lip numbness:This is normal, immediately after the surgery. The upper lip recovers quickly. However the lower lip is much more variable and may take time to recover. Some patients report areas of permanent numbness which does not affect the appearance of the lip or its function.

How long is jaw wired shut after surgery?

Your jaws will be wired together approximately six to eight weeks. This is the time it takes for the bones to heal in a good, strong union. During the time your jaws are wired together, you will find eating, talking and other daily activities somewhat difficult.

Has anyone died during jaw surgery?

Despite the negative public perception, the many studies on complications of orthognathic surgery have shown that it is a safe operation that seldom has complications1,2. Serious complications including mortality have almost never been reported in scientific journals.

Does jaw surgery change your voice?

As you start to reconstruct your jaw and move things around, it can cause some vocal changes. You may experience speech and voice adjustments as these can be the effects of functional surgery. The difference in jaw positioning or shape can have an effect on voice frequencies.

How do you brush your teeth with a wired jaw?

Brush your teeth and wires by using rotating motions directly on the teeth and wires. Brush until the wires are shiny clean. Use the Peridex (Chlorhexidine) mouth rinse prescribed by Dr. Turesky twice a day after brushing, Swish in your mouth for one minute then spit out.

How do you sleep with a wired jaw?

Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows or in a comfortable recliner chair for the first week following surgery. Numbness in the lower jaw and chin will occur after a lower jaw fracture or surgery and in the upper jaw and along the nose and lip following an upper jaw fracture or surgery.

Can you drink with your jaw wired shut?

You’ll likely blend all of your foods or consume prepared foods like liquid nutritional supplements, milkshakes, or drinkable yogurts during this time. You need to make sure that the liquid meals you consume are thin enough to pass through your jaw wiring, with large chunks strained out.

How much does it cost to get your mouth wired shut?

Called the DDS System, the device costs nearly $500, and it is custom-made to fit the roof of your mouth. The manufacturer, Scientific Intake of Atlanta, touts the device as one that promotes behavior-change, rather than calling it a guaranteed weight-loss aid.

What can I eat with jaw wired shut?

Eat soups that have been put in a blender (pureed), milkshakes, baby food, or any foods you that you can blend until they are smooth liquid. You can puree vegetables or fruits in a blender or food processor. Put milk or soy beverage with yogurt or ice cream and fruit in a blender to make milkshakes.

How long does jaw surgery take?

Routine surgery on one jaw typically takes one to two hours. Surgery that involves multiple procedures may take as long as three to five hours.

Does having your jaw wired shut hurt?

Jaw wiring isn’t painful. Your doctor will wire your teeth together while you are still under general anesthesia. Plus, during recovery, you may actually experience post-operative numbness because a lot of the nerves in the lips, chin, and gums may still need to heal.

Can a broken jaw heal without being wired?

Simple, closed, stable fractures can sometimes be very successfully treated without surgery or wiring the jaws shut. Patients must be extremely compliant with instructions for this to be successful.

How much does insurance cover for jaw surgery?

Some insurance plans exclude orthognathic surgery unless it is reconstructive. For patients covered by health insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs could be as low as a $100 copay or, if the insurance company only covers a percentage of the surgery or has an orthognathic surgery cap, could reach $5,000 or more.

Can you speak with a broken jaw?

Broken Jaw Complications

Although many patients with a jawbone fracture often have temporary problems of eating (chewing) and talking, these complications usually resolve over time (days to weeks) with no further complications with appropriate treatment.