First, a detailed study is made on the dentofacial deformity. The dental surgeon then briefs you on the surgical procedure to be undergone that can correct the deformity. The surgeon would tell you if the surgery needs to be done on the lower jaw or the upper jaw based on where the problem is.

The dental surgeon would also tell you if braces will be involved in the entire procedure. In such cases, the complete treatment planning may involve using braces before and after the surgery. So it may be required that you wear braces for a couple of months before the surgery. Once the surgery is completed, sometimes you may be required to wear the braces once again. After the entire period of wearing the braces is completed, you may be given retainers to be worn. So it needs to be understood that the entire orthognathic treatment might be extensive at times and it might run into few years.

The patient is administered a general anesthesia in all types of orthognathic surgeries. The surgeon needs to perform the surgery on the jaw area without any hindrance of the involuntary muscle movement and hence general anesthesia is a prerequisite.

The dental surgeon then proceeds to do the surgery as per the procedures laid out for each orthognathic surgery types.

• Foods that are dark in color like tea, coffee, cola etc,
• Tobacco – both smoking and chewing tobacco
• Stress can cause grinding and so is habitual night grinding. This is called bruxism and this factor is responsible for the wearing out of enamel. As a result, the dentin is exposed and the tooth appears yellow and discolored.

• Swelling of the jaw occurs after the surgical procedures are completed. This is perfectly normal. Generally, the swelling subsides as the wound healing takes place. Swellings to the jaw area subside in about two weeks time.
• Minor bleeding in the surgical area is normal. If the bleeding is excessive, you can consult the surgeon.
• The patient will be on a liquid diet only after the surgery for a couple of weeks. After the healing is set in and the patient is slowly able to move the jaw, they might be prescribed for soft food.
• The patients would be prescribed the necessary painkillers to overcome the pain.
• All medications (antibiotics included) prescribed should be taken diligently for a speedy recovery.
• Your surgeon will tell you when you can take the shower and this will be based on the recovery.
• All workouts and exercise regimen can be resumed after a months time. The patient should not lift weight during the healing period.

Since most orthognathic surgeries involve interference to the dentofacial bones, the skeletal bones have to also completely heal. Hence it might take around three to six months before the bone also grows and heals completely.