Posted on 12/19/2022 by Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery
Jaw misalignment happens when the upper and lower jaws are not in proper alignment. The jaw is supported by a network of muscles, ligaments, and joints. Any disruption or misalignment of any part of this network can throw the jaw out of place. Depending on how bad the misalignment is, an uneven jaw might cause mild bite problems or noticeable changes to your appearance.
Causes of Misaligned Jaws
Improperly positioned jaws are caused by a wide range of factors. An uneven jaw can be the result of a birth defect in any of the structures of the face, or in the bones and muscles that support the face. Among these are cleft palate and genetic abnormalities.
Crookedly erupting teeth, or teeth that haven't fully erupted such as wisdom teeth that are pulling on the other teeth can prevent your jaw from resting in its natural position. The jaw's structure can be weakened by diseases like bone cancer and osteoarthritis, making it more likely to dislocate.
Improperly aligned jaws can be a result of traumatic joint subluxation. The temporomandibular joint functions as a hinge for the lower jaw, allowing for easy opening and closing. Dislocation of the joint can cause abnormal movement.
A misaligned jaw can also be the result of damage to the face. A dislocated jaw, broken jaw, or dislocated jaw joint can be the consequence of trauma to the jaw, such as from a baseball to the face, a fight, or a vehicle accident. Intense clenching and gnashing of teeth can also cause misaligned jaws. The temporomandibular joint or TMJ and the back teeth can become unevenly stressed from chronic bruxism.
Jaw Surgery
While there are ways to realign jaws without surgery, in most cases, any attempt to straighten the jaw without surgery might not always be successful. In that case, oral and maxillofacial surgery may be necessary. Maxillofacial surgery involves reconstructing the mouth and jaw to rectify misalignment caused by birth defects such as cleft palates or deformed bones and joints.
Furthermore, pins, plates, screws, dental bone grafting, wiring, and other orofacial operations may be necessary to splint a broken jaw in place after facial trauma. Find out more today at our dental clinic.
About Us | Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery Our surgeon and compassionate oral surgery team share the same goal: To provide the most comfortable experiences with the very best outcomes for our patients! Greater Charlotte Oral and Facial Surgery, 10935 Winds Crossing Dr. Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28273 ~ (980) 332-7990 ~ greatercharlotteoralsurgery.com ~ 1/21/2025 ~ Page Terms:dental implants Charlotte NC ~
Jaw misalignment happens when the upper and lower jaws are not in proper alignment. The jaw is supported by a network of muscles, ligaments, and joints. Any disruption or misalignment of any part of this network can throw the jaw out of place. Depending on how bad the misalignment is, an uneven jaw might cause mild bite problems or noticeable changes to your appearance.