Cost to Surgically Fix an Overbite
An overbite is when your top teeth are misaligned and come out in front of your bottom teeth, leaving a gap between your upper and lower jaw. An overbite can be caused by many things, including personal habits, like finger sucking, or hereditary or other bone problems like jaw misalignment. Oftentimes, overbites are associated with symptoms such as headaches, trouble chewing, speech impediments, and jaw pain. People with overbites also report feeling self-conscious about their appearance, as they have a tendency to alter the shape of your face. There are many non-surgical ways your dentist might try to fix an overbite, including braces, retainers, or invisible aligners, but sometimes in severe cases, surgery is the best and only option to correct an overbite. The treatment of an overbite that is linked to issues with your jawbone often inevitably involves surgical treatment
Overbite surgery costs generally range between $20,000 to $40,000. This is just an average, and your situation might be different, so it is imperative that you speak with your surgeon and your insurance company to understand the costs associated with the surgery before undergoing the treatment. Please make sure you also find out about any additional costs associated any hospital stays that are a result of your treatment.
You will also need to check with your insurance company to see if jaw surgery is covered by your plan. Some insurance companies determine these surgeries to be medically necessary if the skeletal issues lead to sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, or severe speech impediments.
If the orthognathic surgery only improves a patient’s facial appearance or isn’t medically urgent, it is considered cosmetic, and thus, generally, not covered by most insurance plans. Once again, please check with your insurance provider.
Surgical treatment to repair an overbite generally occurs after an orthodontic preparation phase. Before surgery can be considered, a consultation with the surgeon is essential. The surgeon will carefully analyze the patient's file which includes an updated radiological assessment. They will then establish the surgical plan that will be implemented.
The surgery can involve the mandible, the maxilla, or both. The Mandible is a the lower jaw bone and Maxilla is a upper jawbone. The surgeon can intervene at the level of the Maxilla, which involves moving this upper jaw forward. The incision is made in the mouth, which implies that there is no external scar.
Depending on the case, the orthodontic surgeon can also intervene in the mandible. The lower jaw can be advanced or retracted. Generally, in these types of procedures, the use of screws optimizes the results. Sometimes, to complete the operation, the surgeon may reshape the chin in order to harmonize the appearance. As for the incision, it may differ depending on the case.
Regardless of the type of intervention, allow between 4 and 10 days of hospitalization for orthodontic surgery. Though each situation and patient is unique, you can expect 8-12 weeks to fully recover from surgery. Your surgeon will help you with aftercare, including what and how to eat and how to take care of incision sites.