corrective jaw
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Orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, is commonly performed on patients whose jaws do not meet correctly, which creates an improper bite or a complete misalignment of the jaw. Some patients can correct the problem without jaw surgery, through treatment by their orthodontist. If the problem is identified as severe enough for surgery, the orthodontist will refer the patient to an oral surgeon to perform orthognathic surgery.

Why do I need corrective jaw surgery?

Misaligned jaws can cause many problems affecting the mouth and facial structure, including

  • Dental crowding
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Increased risk of dental caries and periodontal disease
  • The inability to properly chew and grind food
  • Heavy breathing
  • Impaired speech function
  • Poor facial aesthetics
  • Digestive problems
  • Shorter tooth lifespan
  • Snoring and sleep apnea
  • The inability to fully close the lips

Early diagnosis and treatment of any disharmonies of the jaw are important to reduce the risks of serious complications or conditions.

While the goal of orthognathic surgery is to correct jaw function, this procedure also offers improved aesthetics and facial proportions. Patients who elect to undergo corrective jaw surgery typically experience several benefits like improved chewing, speech, and respiratory function along with an enhanced aesthetic appearance.

Am I a candidate for corrective jaw surgery?

Many patients who are candidates for orthognathic surgery are usually aware of the issue; however, they are often unaware that there is a specific procedure to treat their problem. If you experience any of the following problems, you may be a candidate for corrective jaw surgery:

  • Difficulty biting, chewing, swallowing, or closing your lips comfortably
  • Problems with speech, breathing, or sleep apnea
  • A significant protruding upper or lower jaw
  • Receding chin

If you think that you may be a candidate for corrective jaw surgery, we encourage you to contact Pikes Peak Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center for an initial consultation. Dr. Kunkel has received extensive surgical training and education making him uniquely qualified to examine and treat abnormalities of the facial skeleton. If he determines you are a candidate, he will work hand in hand with your orthodontist to plan and execute your procedure.

Testimonials

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5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (~241 reviews) on Google

My name is Leslie, and I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado. My entire lower jaw was shattered, and he put in two plates and, I believe, 12 screws. Dr. Kunkel came to me in the hospital in my initial interaction with him. It was a time in my life that was really hard and not so fun, and I was scared and in a lot of pain. And he actually was really calming. He helped me understand what was happening, what he was going to do. He’s my favorite doctor to this day, of any of the doctors that I’ve ever seen in my whole life. Very attentive, just a really good guy, high integrity. Does exactly what he says, and eased my fears, and just, I had a really good experience. I love all the staff here. They’re always helpful, they’re really welcoming. They’re always real supportive and real comforting, so that was nice. Yes, I would recommend Dr. Kunkel.

- Leslie

Hi, my name is Ron, and I’m from Colorado Springs. What happened to me is I had a major bicycle accident, road bike, and I went over the front, landed on my face. I was taken to the hospital immediately, and I was very, very happy Dr. Kunkel was on duty that day. He had to basically push and lift my upper jaw back into position and then secure it with titanium plates underneath my cheeks. As a result, at the end, I was able to basically bite and chew normally. Since my surgery, I feel absolutely normal. The staff is excellent, and I just really enjoyed coming here. Dr. Kunkel could be my son, and if he was, I’d really be proud of him. I would highly recommend him for any of your oral surgery needs; I wouldn’t go to anyone else.

- Ron

Hello. My name is Kyle, and I’m a local here in Colorado Springs. I came to Pikes Peak Oral Surgery. I broke my jaw last summer in a Ultimate Frisbee accident, and Dr. Kunkel and his staff was kind enough to take me in on a Thursday and then scheduled the surgery for Friday. The staff’s super friendly. You can tell that they do care about you, and Dr. Kunkel also takes the time to give you a call the day after the procedure, just ask how you are doing, and you can tell they go extra mile because they care about their patients. He’s helped me out twice when I’ve been in a tough spot, so I appreciate everything that he’s done for me. So, if anyone of my friends in the surrounding areas of the Colorado Springs, Denver, Pueblo, were looking to seek oral surgery or to have their wisdom teeth removed, I’d certainly recommend Dr. Kunkel.

- Kyle

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Testimonials

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5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (~241 reviews) on Google

Hello. My name's Diana; I’m from Monument, Colorado. I had an impacted wisdom tooth; this infection grew and grew. By the time I went to the emergency room, the infection had moved towards half my face and moving towards my neck. The ER doctors, they called in an oral surgeon who happened to be on call which I was very fortunate that that doctor was Dr. Kunkel. Dr. Kunkel checked on me every day and made sure that the antibiotics were the right ones to work for the infection that I had. The whole time, I felt I was in excellent hands, and he totally put me at ease through this whole procedure. I would recommend Dr. Kunkel and his staff to anyone.

- Diana

My first name is Rockey Bell; I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I had this big lump inside my mouth, and I wasn’t really sure what it was. It was a little painful, so I came here to see what they could do with that nasty-looking thing. I was very nervous because I had thought maybe it might be cancer, or I really didn’t know what it was. Dr. Kunkel is a very proficient doctor. He’s very intelligent, and he talks to you like you’re human. I think the staff are amazing. They’ve helped me with every issue I’ve had. They made me feel comfortable. I would recommend anybody from Colorado Springs, Monument, Falcon to Dr. Kunkel.

- Rockey

I’m Andrea Brown, and I’m from Colorado Spring, Colorado. I came to Pikes Peak Oral Surgery because I had an abscessed tooth that was getting infected. Dr. Kunkel did an extraordinary job in treating me, in diagnosing me, and I feel real comfortable that I’m on the road to recovery right now. The staff at Dr. Kunkel’s office is just wonderful. I bring them treats. They are so sweet. They are terrific. It’s a real nice, friendly, tight-knit group. If I were to recommend an oral surgeon to any of my friends in Peregrine or Briargate, I would definitely recommend Dr. Kunkel. I’ve been thrilled with his care.

- Andrea

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