What lies behind jaw pain
Pain when chewing, cracking and clicking near the ear — symptoms that many people accept as normal for years. In fact they can indicate a bite pathology or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction requiring specialist care.
Why braces do not always help
Orthodontic treatment addresses problems within the dental arch. When the cause lies in the position of the jaw bones rather than just the teeth, braces eliminate the symptom but not the root cause. A patient may wear braces for years, the bite 'improves' on paper, but chewing remains uncomfortable.
When surgery is needed
Orthognathic surgery is indicated in cases of:
- skeletal malocclusions not amenable to orthodontic correction;
- pronounced facial asymmetry of skeletal origin;
- chronic TMJ pain related to jaw position;
- breathing disorders (sleep apnoea) caused by lower jaw anatomy.
How to find out what you need
The first step is a consultation with a maxillofacial surgeon accompanied by CT and cephalometric imaging. Based on the scans, the doctor determines whether there is a skeletal cause and proposes a plan: orthodontics, surgery, or a combination. If an orthodontist has been unable to complete treatment for years, that is a signal to consult a surgeon.