Should I undergo jaw surgery to correct my collapsed bite?

Question

Hello doctor,

I had most of my teeth removed and received dentures five years ago. I was stuck in a failing dental office with poorly fitting dentures for years and did not understand the consequences. This may have accelerated jawbone loss. My dentist did not express concern, and I recently received full-arch fixed dental implants.

I did not realize how collapsed my bite was; it is severe. I could not tolerate restoring the vertical dimension of occlusion due to the lack of space in my mouth; my lower facial height has been reduced. I am still experiencing jaw, neck, ear, and head pain, as well as clenching, which I suspect is due to the reduced space, deteriorated jawbone and joints, and the collapsed bite.

I am living in pain and barely sleeping due to clenching. I am concerned that the implants could fail because of the constant clenching. It is unclear whether I can undergo jaw surgery, given that I already have full-arch implants.

I am feeling hopeless and desperate for direction and help.

Please advise.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can truly empathize with and understand what you have been through.

As a professional maxillofacial surgeon with many years of expertise in this field, I would like you to chat with me one-on-one here so I can help address your concerns.

As you have already recognized the issue clearly yourself, jawbone loss can often create trauma to the oral tissues and dentition, leading to complex regional or local pain and discomfort over time. Please let me know:

For how many years have you been experiencing the habit of night clenching or teeth grinding?
Do you have any other medical issues apart from your dental condition?
Are you currently on any specific medications?

If we can interact here over time, I can better understand your condition and guide you with appropriate non-surgical remedies and interventions as needed. This type of persistent discomfort should not be left untreated, as it can sometimes lead to complications and worsening pain.

Please start chatting with me so we can address the problem properly and work toward finding solutions.

Thank you.

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