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The forward lower jaw can give the appearance of a witch-long chin. Having an extended lower jaw can also make your face always look "cold" and grim. No wonder this condition can reduce a person's self-confidence, even though it doesn't really interfere with daily activities. How to deal with an advanced lower jaw?
What exactly is the cause of an advanced lower jaw?
Source: Medline Plus
In the medical world, an advanced mandibular condition is known as mandibular prognathism underbite .
Reporting from the Medline Plus page, the lower jaw can advance due to a variety of different causes, namely:
- Hereditary factors, such as having a congenital protruding mandible shape
- Medical conditions or genetic disorders, such as Crouzon syndrome
- Growth hormone disorders, such as gigantism or acromegaly
- Malocclusion, which is a jaw disorder related to the position of a messy tooth
How is an advanced lower jaw treated?
In fact, not all conditions of the advanced jaw require special treatment. However, if it causes jaw pain, difficulty speaking, difficulty biting and chewing food, or lowers self-confidence, you can consult your doctor to find the best solution.
Before that, the doctor will do these tests first:
- X-ray of all parts of the skull
- X-ray of the mouth, including the jaw and teeth
- Print bite marks to see the construction of the tooth shape
If the test results tell the doctor that the cause of your forward mandible is a messy row of teeth, treatment options include bracing, removing the tooth to loosen the density of the tooth row, or installing special cables to stabilize the jawbone.
If your underbite is caused by something else, your doctor will likely recommend that you undergo jaw surgery by cutting the jawbone or shifting the position of the affected jaw to shorten or adjust the size of the upper and lower jaw. Correcting an advanced lower jaw will help restore a more natural and symmetrical facial structure. Handling through surgery can also be accompanied by dental care as above to adjust the condition of the new jaw with the condition of your teeth at this time.
Another method of handling the advanced mandible is the mentoplasty. Mentoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape the chin. This surgery is performed by making an incision under the chin or around the mouth. The doctor will then shape the bone in a more proportionate size to give it a symmetrical appearance.
According to the American Academy of Facil Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, after surgery, the chin will be bandaged for 2-3 days so that mouth movement will be very limited. You will be advised to eat foods that are liquid or very soft. After about six weeks, most of the post-operative swelling will go away completely and you can go about your normal activities.
