Arizona Jaw Surgery

Orthognathic surgery is needed when the top and bottom jaws don’t align correctly. Teeth are straightened with orthodontics, and corrective jaw surgery repositions the misaligned jaw or jaws. This not only ensures teeth align and function properly, but also often improves facial appearance and breathing.

Dr. Michael Wasson is one of only a few surgeons in Arizona performing orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery using clear aligners or Invisalign. Most surgeons will require you to have traditional braces in order to have corrective jaw surgery as this is how jaw surgery was performed years ago. However, many new techniques allow us to perform jaw surgery with clear aligners with the same results as with traditional braces.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to your jaw joint. If you have had symptoms like pain or a “clicking” sound, you’ll be glad to know that these problems can be treated more easily and discreetly than they were in the past. These symptoms occur when the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles do not work together correctly. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important. Dr. Wasson can help you have a healthier, more comfortable jaw. Dr. Wasson is the only surgeon in Arizona performing TMJ arthroscopic surgery (minimally invasive and minimal scarring).

People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have disrupted sleep and low blood oxygen levels. When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the tongue or other soft tissue obstruct the throat. This blocks the upper airway and airflow stops. When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough, the sleeper partially awakens to clear the obstruction (coughing or gasping), and the flow of air starts again. The patient then falls asleep again and the process repeats itself leading to disrupted or fragmented sleep The first step in treatment for sleep apnea resides in recognition of the symptoms and seeking appropriate consultation. Sleep physicians are an important member of the treatment team as they diagnose the presence and severity of sleep apnea and monitor progress over time. If your sleep physician feels that surgery is an option or you cannot tolerate CPAP or other devices, surgical treatment may be for you. Board Certified Oral Surgeon, Dr. Michael Wasson can offer consultation and treatment options.

Whenever the nerves of the mouth are injured and don’t heal appropriately on their own, nerve repair procedures may be required. Fortunately, the need for nerve repair surgery is uncommon. However, several circumstances can arise that make the procedure beneficial. These include facial trauma, injury from tumors/growths, or injury from dental procedures such as tooth extraction, dental implant placement, or endodontic (root canal) treatments. If you have a nerve injury that is not improving and has resulted in numbness (anesthesia), abnormal sensations (paresthesia) or unpleasant sensations (dysesthesia) you may benefit from nerve repair evaluation and treatment. Nerve repair surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually can be performed as a same-day surgery requiring no overnight stay in the hospital. Options for repair include direct nerve repair, nerve conduits, and nerve allografts.