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Can I wire my jaw shut?
Jaw wiring is known in the medical community as maxillomandibular fixation. This procedure connects your lower and upper jaw bones together. Your doctor may use wires or other materials like elastic bands or metal devices to keep the jaw together. While your jaw is wired shut, you’ll need to maintain a liquid diet.
How do doctors wire your jaw shut?
How Are Your Jaws Wired Shut? There are a couple of ways your doctor can wire your jaws shut. An orthodontist can place braces on your teeth and then attach surgical hooks to the brackets. During your jaw surgery, your doctor will use small wire loops around the surgical hooks which will keep your teeth together.
Can a broken jaw heal without being wired?
Simple, closed, stable fractures can sometimes be very successfully treated without surgery or wiring the jaws shut. Patients must be extremely compliant with instructions for this to be successful.
How do you wire a jaw?
Jaw wiring is performed by attaching orthodontic brackets to the teeth, and wrapping pliable wire either around or through the brackets or with the use of arch bars or loops affixed with wires around the teeth, or with metal splints bonded to the teeth.
How long does a broken jaw have to be wired shut?
Your jaws will be wired together approximately six to eight weeks. This is the time it takes for the bones to heal in a good, strong union. During the time your jaws are wired together, you will find eating, talking and other daily activities somewhat difficult.
How much does it cost to wire a jaw shut?
Called the DDS System, the device costs nearly $500, and it is custom-made to fit the roof of your mouth. The manufacturer, Scientific Intake of Atlanta, touts the device as one that promotes behavior-change, rather than calling it a guaranteed weight-loss aid.
Does your mouth have to be wired shut after jaw surgery?
EATING. In the past, and occasionally at the present time, teeth must be wired together after jaw surgery. This allows the bones to heal while they are being held still. In the majority of cases today we use small bone plates and screws to hold the bones while allowing them to heal.
How can I realign my jaw at home?
Stretching exercises Open your mouth as wide as you comfortably can, and hold for 5-10 seconds. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Glide your lower jaw out as far as it will go and then back in as far as it will go. Hold for 5-10 seconds in each position.
Can you smoke when your jaw is wired shut?
DO NOT SMOKE! Do not use straws for several days unless your jaws are wired shut. DO NOT drive, operate machinery or any other potentially dangerous items, or be solely responsible for child care for 24 hours after IV anesthesia (or at any time when taking prescription pain medication).
How long does a broken jaw need to be wired shut?