Surgery for Jaw Misalignment & Bite Problems
Jaw alignment plays an important role in how you chew, speak, breathe, and feel every day. At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our board-certified surgeons correct jaw misalignment and bite concerns by addressing the underlying skeletal structure, creating a stronger foundation for improved function and facial balance.
Building a Better Foundation for Bite Function
Your bite begins with the relationship between your upper and lower jaws. Even with beautifully aligned teeth, an underlying jaw discrepancy can affect how the teeth come together and how force is distributed when chewing, speaking, and functioning every day.
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into healthier positions, while jaw surgery corrects the skeletal structure and position of the jaws that support them. Together, these treatments can create a more stable bite for improved comfort, function, and facial balance.
Common Types of Jaw & Bite Misalignment
Skeletal jaw misalignment can show up in several ways, each with different effects on your bite, tooth wear, and facial profile.
Underbite, Overbite & Open Bite
- Underbite: The lower jaw sits too far forward, causing the lower teeth to overlap the upper teeth and creating difficulty with chewing and bite function.
- Overbite: The upper and lower jaws do not align properly, often making the lower jaw appear set back and affecting the way the teeth come together.
- Open bite: The upper and lower teeth do not fully meet when the mouth closes, making biting and chewing certain foods more difficult.
Narrow Upper Jaw & Crossbite
- A narrow upper jaw can prevent the upper and lower teeth from fitting together comfortably.
- Bite imbalance may place uneven pressure on certain teeth and affect chewing efficiency.
- In some cases, a constricted upper jaw can also limit nasal airflow and contribute to mouth breathing.
Facial Imbalance & Jaw Asymmetry
- Uneven jaw growth can cause the chin or lower face to appear shifted or off-center.
- Jaw asymmetry may also affect how the teeth fit together and how the bite functions.
- Because the soft tissues of the face follow the underlying jaw structure, these differences can influence overall facial balance and profile.
Orthodontics, Surgery, or Both?
The right treatment depends on what is causing the bite problem. Orthodontic treatment is highly effective for moving teeth into better alignment, but when the underlying issue involves the position of the jaws themselves, moving teeth alone may not fully correct the problem.
For patients with significant skeletal discrepancies, orthodontics and corrective jaw surgery often work together to achieve the healthiest, most stable result. Orthodontic treatment positions the teeth within each jaw, while surgery repositions the jaws into proper alignment. Once the jaws are in their ideal position, final orthodontic adjustments help create a comfortable, balanced bite.
Correcting the jaw relationship rather than simply compensating for it can improve long-term function, stability, oral health, and comfort. As specialists in the bones, joints, and structures of the face and jaws, oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the advanced training required to carefully plan jaw movements, predict how the bit will function after treatment, and delivery results that improve both form and function.
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our board-certified surgeons work closely with your orthodontist throughout treatment, creating a coordinated plan designed to achieve the best possible outcome for your bite, facial balance, and long-term quality of life.
Leaders in Corrective Jaw Surgery
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons routinely treat skeletal jaw and bite discrepancies with the most effective and advanced surgical techniques and technology.
Our surgeons are renowned for correcting the full range of skeletal patterns, partnering with patients and orthodontists not only across the Carolinas, but throughout the United States and internationally. We set the highest standards of safety, quality, and innovation in orthognathic surgery.
Is Jaw Surgery Right for You? Hear From Our Surgeons
Jaw surgery is a big decision, and understanding your options is the first step. Watch as our surgeons explain why jaw surgery may be recommended, how it works alongside orthodontic treatment, and what patients can expect throughout the process. You’ll also learn how our team combines extensive experience, advanced technology, and compassionate care to deliver life-changing results for patients across the Carolinas and beyond.
The Path from Misaligned Bite to Stable Function
Corrective jaw surgery is a coordinated, staged process. Here is what most patients can expect from the first consultation through the final orthodontic refinement, typically spanning 18–24 months for combined treatment.
Initial Consultation
You’ll meet with one of our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons to review your medical history, examine your bite, and capture 3D cone-beam CT imaging. We’ll explain whether the underlying problem is in your teeth, your jaws, or both, and provide education on what correction options exist.
Virtual Surgical Planning
Using your imaging and clinical findings, your surgeon builds a digital model of your anatomy and simulates the planned jaw movements. You’ll see an animated preview of the corrected bite and the anticipated change in your facial profile before any surgical date is set.
Pre-Surgical Orthodontics
Most patients need 12–18 months of braces or aligners with their orthodontist before surgery, so the teeth in each arch are positioned for a stable bite once the jaws are moved. Our team coordinates directly with your orthodontist throughout this phase.
Surgery & Recovery
Surgery is performed under general anesthesia in our AAAHC-accredited surgical centers and typically takes a few hours. Most patients return home the same day, return to work or school in 2–3 weeks, and resume strenuous activity at six weeks.
Post-Surgical Orthodontics & Long-Term Follow-Up
Once initial healing is complete, your orthodontist finishes the bite with light tooth movements that are only possible after the jaws are in their new position. Follow-up appointments at CCOFS continue through the first year to confirm a stable, functional result.
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Every Smile Has A Story
For this patient, that story included years of living with jaw misalignment that affected her bite, comfort, and daily function. Through corrective jaw surgery, our team was able to improve the relationship between her jaws, creating a healthier, more functional bite and helping restore balance and confidence.
One of the greatest rewards of what we do is seeing patients move beyond treatment and into the moments that matter most. Seeing her smiling confidently on her wedding day was a powerful reminder that corrective jaw surgery can have an impact far beyond the bite. It can help patients feel more comfortable, confident, and ready to fully enjoy life’s biggest milestones.
Jaw Misalignment & Surgery FAQs
If you’ve been told you may need jaw surgery, or you’ve completed orthodontic treatment and your bite still doesn’t feel right, these are some of the questions we hear most often.
