Recovery from jaw surgery should be taken seriously by patients since jaw surgery is a complex operation, which is performed by surgeons to correct jaw abnormalities. With the operation, surgeons eliminate the abnormalities by repositioning jaws, changing their size, or removing pieces of bones. After this complex operation, the healing period may take time.
What Is the Estimated Time of Recovery From Jaw Surgery?
After the surgery, the patients experience a two-phase process of recovery from jaw surgery.
Phases
Estimated time
Phase 1
1 – 3 weeks
Phase 2
4 – 12 weeks
In the first phase of recovery from jaw surgery, the patient may experience symptoms such as swelling and discomfort. It’s better to sit upright and keep calm to manage these symptoms. The patient needs to take medications, maintain a soft diet, and rest at home.
In the second phase of recovery from jaw surgery, the patient avoids prolonged chewing but resumes moderate chewing more for jaw muscles to strengthen. It’s better to avoid intensive exercise for the first 2 months. And up to 4 months, the patient is better to wear a mouth splint while exercising.
Lower Jaw Surgery Recovery Process
A lower jaw surgery is an operation which is performed by surgeons on the lower jaw. It can be done to correct abnormalities or to remove a tumor, which is also called jaw tumor surgery.
The process of lower jaw surgery is the same. Even the patients can recover from it within 6 weeks. However, the process of recovery from jaw surgery should be taken seriously.
Double Jaw Surgery Recovery Process
A double jaw surgery is an operation which is performed on both jaws. That’s the reason why the process of recovery from jaw surgery takes more than lower or upper jaw surgery. The patient should pay attention to the healing path for 3 months.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Jaw Surgery Underbite?
The initial recovery from jaw surgery takes about 2 – 3 months. However, after the recovery, the patient may need his teeth to be aligned with braces, which could take several years.
How Long After Jaw Surgery Can You Talk?
It’s normal for patients to find it difficult to talk in the first phase of the recovery from jaw surgery, which may take 1-3 weeks. It’s better to remain calm and talk as slowly as needed. When the jaw muscles are strong enough, the difficulty in talking will disappear.
What To Expect 4 Weeks After Jaw Surgery?
After 4 weeks, the second phase of recovery from jaw surgery begins. At this point, the patients can have any soft foods in condition of cutting them into small pieces. However, the patients still need to avoid too much pressure on the jaw.
How Is Jaw Surgery Swelling 6 Months After The Surgery?
After the surgery, most of the swelling is expected to reduce. The improvement in swelling is likely to be seen in the second phase of recovery from jaw surgery. And the full recovery can be expected within 8 months.
Results of Jaw Surgery Recovery Pictures
The surgeons usually take before and after pictures of the patients to see the results of recovery from jaw surgery. After the recovery process, the patients will experience improvements as listed below.
The appearance of the lower face will be balanced.
The function of the teeth will be improved.
The patient’s health will be better because of increased quality of breathing, sleeping, chewing and swallowing.
Speech impairments will be improved.
What Are The Jaw Surgery Recovery Essentials?
The patients must be meticulous about the process of recovery from jaw surgery. All the details of the process are shared by the surgeons and dental experts. Some of the details of recovery essentials can be as listed below.
Essentials
Details
Things to have during recovery from jaw surgery
ice packs, a child-size tooth brush, canned protein meals, container with a straw, vaseline
Medical instructions
Follow the medical instructions word by word. If you have any questions, contact your doctor. Do not improvise.
Elastics
You will have them to hold your jaws together.
Stiches
They are dissolvable. They will disappear within 2 weeks.
Nausea
Try drinking some clear soda sip by sip until you feel better.
Bleeding
Some bleeding is normal. However, to minimize it you can sit upright, stay calm and avoid exercise during this stage of recovery from jaw surgery.
Swelling
To ease it you can use heat packs, and a jaw bra for comfort.
Hygine
You should start brushing your teeth a day after the surgery. You can also rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day with a mixture of water and salt.
Diet during recovery from jaw surgery
You are not allowed to chew for 6 weeks. So, you need to have lots of fluids.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recovery From Jaw Surgery
A jaw surgery could be a terrifying operation to have. Therefore the patients have many inquiries, especially about recovery from jaw surgery. Here are a few questions and answers.
How Long Does Jaw Surgery Take To Heal?
After such a complicated surgery, initial recovery from jaw surgery takes 6 to 8 weeks. For jaws to heal completely, it takes up to 12 months. However, any bruising goes on within a few days.
Is Jaw Surgery Recovery Hard?
Any surgery including facial bones usually requires at least 2 weeks to recover. If the surgery includes wired closing of the patient’s jaws, then it takes longer to recover, such as recovery from jaw surgery. However, if the patient rests enough and maintains an adequately high-calorie diet, the recovery process will be smooth.
Is Jaw Surgery A Major Surgery?
Yes, it is a major surgery. During recovery from jaw surgery, the patient needs to pause his life for several weeks to rest and properly heal. For further information about what to expect from the surgery, the patient is better to talk to his doctors.
