If your dentist or orthodontist has referred you for jaw surgery, you likely have a lot of questions. What exactly does the procedure involve? How long is recovery? Will you need time off work or school? At Black Pine OMS, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform jaw surgery — also called orthognathic surgery — for patients throughout Boise, ID and the greater Treasure Valley, including Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Garden City, and Kuna. This guide walks you through everything you need to know.

What Is Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery)?

Orthognathic surgery corrects significant irregularities of the jaw bones — problems that orthodontics alone cannot fix. These irregularities can affect how you bite, chew, speak, and breathe, and in some cases they cause chronic pain or sleep-related breathing difficulties. The surgery repositions the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), or both to bring them into proper alignment.

Jaw surgery is almost always performed in combination with orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist and oral surgeon work as a team: braces move the teeth into their ideal positions within each jaw, and then surgery moves the jaws themselves into alignment with each other. Most patients in Boise, ID wear braces for 12–18 months before surgery, and then for an additional 6–12 months afterward to fine-tune the result.

Common Reasons Patients in Boise Seek Jaw Surgery

Patients from across the Treasure Valley — Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, and beyond — come to Black Pine OMS for jaw surgery to address a wide range of conditions:

• Significant overbite or underbite that orthodontics alone cannot correct
• Open bite — where the front upper and lower teeth don’t make contact when the mouth is closed
• Crossbite — where the upper and lower jaws are offset side to side
• Facial asymmetry — one side of the jaw growing more than the other
• Chronic jaw or TMJ pain related to skeletal misalignment
• Obstructive sleep apnea — jaw advancement can dramatically widen the airway
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing due to malocclusion
• Speech difficulties tied to jaw position

The Jaw Surgery Process: A Step-by-Step Overview

1. Consultation and Evaluation

Your journey begins with a thorough evaluation at our Boise, ID office. Our surgeons use 3D cone-beam CT imaging to produce precise models of your jaw anatomy. Working alongside your orthodontist, we create a detailed surgical plan — including computer-simulated projections of your post-surgery profile — so you know exactly what to expect. This planning phase is critical: the more precisely the surgery is mapped, the more predictable and stable the outcome.

2. Pre-Surgical Orthodontics

Before surgery can take place, braces align your teeth within each jaw. Counterintuitively, this phase can make your bite look slightly worse before it gets better — that’s normal and expected, because the teeth are being positioned for where your jaws will be after surgery, not before. This phase typically lasts 12–18 months.

3. The Surgery Itself

Jaw surgery at Black Pine OMS is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital or accredited surgical facility. Incisions are made inside the mouth whenever possible, minimizing visible scarring. Depending on your specific case, the surgeon may:

• Reposition the upper jaw (Le Fort osteotomy) — cutting and moving the maxilla forward, backward, up, or down
• Reposition the lower jaw (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy) — moving the mandible forward or backward
• Perform a genioplasty (chin surgery) — repositioning the chin bone for improved facial harmony
• Combine procedures — double-jaw surgery addresses both jaws simultaneously for complex cases

Titanium plates and screws hold the repositioned bones in place while they heal. Most jaw surgeries take 2–4 hours. Patients typically stay in the hospital for 1–2 nights for monitoring before returning home to Boise or their surrounding community.

4. Post-Surgical Recovery

Recovery from jaw surgery is a gradual process. Here is what most patients in Boise, ID can expect:

• Weeks 1–2: Significant swelling, bruising, and jaw stiffness. Most patients require a liquid or very soft diet. Prescription pain medication is typically needed during this window. Plan to take 2–3 weeks off work or school.
• Weeks 3–6: Swelling begins to resolve. You’ll transition to soft foods as healing progresses. Energy levels gradually return. Most patients can resume light activity and return to work in an office setting by week 3 or 4.
• Months 2–3: The jaw feels increasingly stable. Your orthodontist will begin the final phase of braces adjustments. By this point most patients are eating a near-normal diet.
• Months 6–12: The bones fully heal and fuse. Final orthodontic adjustments are completed, and retainers are fitted to maintain your new bite for life.

Full resolution of swelling — particularly the subtle puffiness that others can’t always see but you can feel — can take up to 12 months.

Is Jaw Surgery Covered by Insurance?

Because orthognathic surgery corrects functional problems (chewing, breathing, bite alignment), it is frequently covered — at least in part — by medical insurance, not just dental insurance. Our team at Black Pine OMS works with patients throughout Boise, ID, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Garden City, and Kuna to navigate prior authorizations and insurance billing. We strongly recommend verifying your coverage before beginning orthodontic treatment so there are no surprises. Visit our insurance and financing page to learn more, or call our office to speak with a team member.

Why Treasure Valley Patients Choose Black Pine OMS for Jaw Surgery

Black Pine OMS has served the Boise, ID community and surrounding Treasure Valley for years, building a reputation for surgical precision, compassionate care, and outstanding outcomes. Here is what sets our practice apart:

• Board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons with specialized fellowship-level training in orthognathic surgery
• Advanced 3D CBCT imaging for surgical planning that removes guesswork and improves predictability
• Collaborative care model — we maintain close communication with your referring orthodontist throughout treatment
• Comprehensive patient education — you’ll understand every phase of your treatment before it begins
• Convenient location serving Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Garden City, Kuna, and patients traveling from across Idaho

Learn more about our surgical team on the Meet the Doctors page, or explore our full range of procedures at our procedures overview.

Related Services at Black Pine OMS

Jaw surgery patients often benefit from related services. If your treatment plan includes tooth extractions ahead of orthodontic treatment, learn about tooth extraction in Boise, ID and what to expect. Patients with bone loss in the jaw may also need a bone graft as part of their overall care plan. And if you are considering full-arch restoration, our team also provides All-on-4 dental implants in Boise, ID for patients who have lost multiple teeth.

Schedule Your Jaw Surgery Consultation in Boise, ID

If you’ve been referred for jaw surgery — or if you’ve been living with bite problems, jaw pain, or breathing difficulties and wonder whether surgery might help — we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our team in Boise, ID. We serve patients from throughout the Treasure Valley: Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Garden City, and Kuna. Our surgeons will review your records, answer every question you have, and work with your orthodontist to develop a customized plan.

Call Black Pine OMS today or visit our online appointment request page to get started.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual outcomes vary. Please consult with a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon to determine whether jaw surgery is appropriate for your specific condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jaw Surgery in Boise, ID

How long does jaw surgery take?

Most jaw surgeries take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the case. Double-jaw procedures (operating on both the upper and lower jaw simultaneously) are on the longer end of that range. Your surgeon at Black Pine OMS will give you a procedure-specific time estimate during your consultation.

How painful is recovery from jaw surgery?

Discomfort is managed with prescription pain medication during the first 1–2 weeks. Most patients describe the sensation as more “pressure and stiffness” than sharp pain, particularly after the first few days. Swelling is the most significant challenge during early recovery. By weeks 3–4, most patients in Boise, ID have transitioned to over-the-counter pain relief.

When can I go back to work after jaw surgery?

Most patients with office or desk jobs return to work within 2–3 weeks. Physical laborers or those in jobs requiring heavy exertion may need 4–6 weeks. Your surgeon will provide a personalized return-to-activity timeline based on your specific procedure and recovery progress.

Will jaw surgery change my appearance?

Yes — in a positive way for most patients. Correcting jaw misalignment often improves facial balance and profile significantly. Your surgeon uses 3D imaging and computer simulation during planning so you can preview the expected changes to your profile before committing to the procedure.

Does medical insurance cover jaw surgery?

Orthognathic surgery is frequently covered by medical insurance when it is deemed medically necessary — for example, to correct a documented bite problem, breathing impairment, or chronic pain. Our team at Black Pine OMS works with patients throughout the Boise, ID area to obtain prior authorizations and navigate the insurance process. Coverage varies by plan, so verification before treatment begins is strongly recommended.