Our Blog

LOWER JAW SURGERY, called a bilateral sagittal split osteomy (BSSO), can move your lower tooth jaw position either forward or backward to improve both your facial appearance and your bite.

Why Jaw Surgery?

Lower jaw growth is greatly influenced by genetics and often cannot be controlled. If you have a large lower jaw (mandibular prognathism), you may benefit in facial appearance and tooth function by having your lower jaw moved back. This is called a mandibular setback.

This procedure has many benefits, including:

• The lower jaw can be moved as desired to the ideal position
• Nothing shows outside of your mouth. Rigid Intraoral Fixation (RIF) tiny titanium plates are used so your jaw doesn’t need to be “wired shut” during healing
• Postsurgical healing is quick and stability is good

The chin can also be repositioned. This procedure is called a genioplasty. It is also done in about 30% of jaw surgery patients.

Is Jaw Surgery Right For You?

In Northern California, the cost of orthognathic surgery (jaw surgery) is usually covered by medical insurance. Many patients have their jaw surgery treatment done at either Oakland Kaiser Hospital or UCSF Medical Center.

If you have questions regarding jaw surgery, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California at (925) 757-9000. Board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca has been treating jaw surgery patients successfully for over 30 years. Visit us for a complimentary orthodontic examination and let us help you get the bite and facial appearance of your dreams.

Jaw surgery can save your smile. It can also improve your life.

Top image by Flickr user Elvert Barnes used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

OUR TEAM WANTS TO MAKE SURE that you have healthy teeth for life. That means that whether you’re in braces or you’re finished with treatment, there are some things that you should know about your oral health — including the way that asthma can impact it.

Were you a little surprised by the headline of this blog post? If so, you’re not alone. Many people are unaware of the link between asthma and tooth decay.

What Does Asthma Have To Do With Cavities?

When drawing breath doesn’t come easily, most people compensate by breathing through their mouths. This leads to dry mouth. When there’s not enough saliva to protect and clean your teeth, you’re left more vulnerable to decay-causing bacteria. In addition, some people compound the problem by sipping on sugary drinks all day trying to quench the dryness!

As if that weren’t enough, asthma and allergy medications themselves can cause even more dryness on top of the mouth breathing. Not a good combination.

Some Evidence — But It’s Not Just About Kids

A Swedish study of children and young adults with similar backgrounds and habits evaluated the links between asthma and caries. In the group of asthma-free kids, only 7 out of 20 developed tooth decay. Within the group with asthma, however, 19 out of 20 kids developed tooth decay. Although the study above centered around kids with asthma, the risks also apply to adults.

What You Can Do About It

Asthma may not have a simple fix, but tooth decay does. First and foremost, stick faithfully to the basics. Brush especially carefully while you’re in braces — at least twice a day. Floss to clean the places in your mouth where brushing misses. Keep your scheduled cleaning and checkup appointments. Avoid foods and drinks that are most harmful to your teeth.

And specific to the issue of dry mouth, here are some tips for increased, healthy saliva flow:

• Chew sugar-free gum.
• Occasionally suck on sugar-free mints.
• Drink plenty of water.

One More Special Note About Asthma

If you have asthma, please let our team know! The more we know about your health the better. It helps us advise and serve you better. If you have any questions about how asthma can impact your oral health, please ask us! We’re honored to be your resource.

If you have questions about your teeth, bite, or cavities, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a free orthodontic examination. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

Thanks for being a fantastic part of our practice! We appreciate our relationship with you.

IT’S THE START of another new year. It’s a time of reflection, gratitude, and excitement about possibilities for the future.

It’s A Great Time To Start Orthodontic Treatment

A beautiful smile will produce confidence, radiance, and happiness in all you do and all who see your beautiful smile.

Beautiful, straight teeth will be easier to floss.

And a great bite will make eating, speaking, and chewing easy, as well as reduce the wear of your teeth.

Take The Orthodontic Tooth Plunge!

Don't hesitate! Be the best you you’d like to be this year. New year, new you. Schedule your orthodontic exam with an orthodontist today. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a free orthodontic examination and find out what orthodontics can do to improve your life.

Find us at 5201 Deer Valley Road in the Deer Valley Dental Professional Building behind Deer Valley High School.

Here’s to your beautiful smile!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WE’VE LONG HAD a New Year’s Eve tradition in my family. In a small book, my family and I write down our top ten list of favorite memories from the past year for which we are most thankful. These are the events, things, and times that brought us the most individual joy and were truly the most memorable and special events of the year for each one of us.

Next, we write our ten personal goals for the coming year, our New Year’s Resolutions. These top ten wish lists of what we would like to personally experience in the coming year are our personal hopes and dreams for the future.

We read these resolutions, past and future, out loud to each other and share our favorite memories from the past year one more time. We imagine and dream with hope and anticipation the new events we will be able to create by our actions in the coming year. It is so much fun to remember the special times we’ve had together and to look back on how far we’ve come. Our New Year’s resolutions will guide us through the new year, motivate us, and one by one, become a reality.

At this time, I would like to personally thank everyone — readers, patients, family, and friends — for being part of this past year and making 2017 a year to remember. We look forward with excitement and anticipation to seeing you again in 2018. We join you in our plans to make 2018 the best year ever.

Happy New Year from my family to yours and from all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California.

Here's to 2018!

-Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.