I agree with Dr Lee that the best treatment would start with a proper assessment of the cause of your perceived upper lip protrusions. There is actually minimal subcutaneous fat in the upper lips of most people, so removal of fats in that area is very uncommon. The teeth and underlying bone structure will make more of a difference usually. As we age, bone resorption at the maxilla bone causes its retrusion and a reduction of your maxillary angle can make the upper lips look more protruding.

It is great that you are thinking about correcting your bite. With skeletal issues such as a slanted jaw, surgery is indeed required in order to achieve a good stable bite. However depending on the degree of skeletal discrepancy (slanted jaw) braces / invisalign are still options for you to consider in order to straighten out your teeth and give you a good smile. Straight and aligned teeth can be achieved but there are limitations so it depends on what your ideal smile is! My suggestion would be to consider all your options and if needed seek a second opinion.

There are various options: 1. Credit card installment plans - certain clinics have pre-arranged plans with the banks such that credit cards from those banks are allowed to enjoy interest free installment payments (the whole amount is charged on the card, and then the patient pays monthly to the bank). 2. In-clinic installments - I have heard that some clinics do allow direct installment payment arrangements, and as such, you would probably need to message a few more dental clinic to find out the possibilities about this.

Thanks for the question. An underbite (mandibular prognathism) is a type of dental misalignment (malocclusion) in which one’s lower jaw protrudes or extends further than the upper jaw.

Thanks for the question. It is important to first find out the underlying cause of the lisp before suggesting any treatment option. The most common type of lisp is frontal lisp, where the tip of the tongue protrudes between the front teeth and obstructing the airflow. There is also palatal lisp, where one rolls their tongue too far back and touches the roof of the mouth and dental lisp, where the tip of the tongue pushes against the teeth. Common causes of lisp include tongue placement and tongue tie.

Thanks for the D2D. Yes, you will need to be hospitalised for at least a night after your jaw surgery. The exact duration of your stay depends on the extent of surgery and your personal speed of recovery. In most cases, patients tend to be discharged after two to three days. Hospitalisation is needed as you need time to recover from the general anaesthesia and you will have difficulty eating or drinking right after the jaw surgery. You will be on intravenous (IV) drip for at least a day after the surgery. The IV drop will provide you with the nutrients and medication you require.

Thanks for the question. Initial recovery from the surgery (e. g. healing of incision, reduction in swelling/bruises) takes about four to five weeks, while complete bone and nerve healing takes about nine to 12 months. During recovery, here are a few important things to take note of: Bleeding: this may be observed in the mouth (operation site) or nose for up to two weeks, this should not be any cause of concern. However, if you find that the bleeding is excessive, do inform your oral surgeon know.

Thanks for the D2D. Listen to your orthodontist and oral surgeon, they know your dental condition and are the best people to guide you along the process. During the pre- and post-surgery orthodontic treatment, maintain good oral hygiene so that there are no additional dental issues. If you are wearing Invisalign, be disciplined in wearing your aligners for the recommended time so that your treatment can progress in a timely manner. If you are a smoker, it is best to stop smoking. A few weeks before your jaw surgery, do prepare yourself mentally and physically.

Thanks for the question. I always ask my patients how they are feeling after the jaw surgery during our review sessions. The general feedback is that some discomfort is felt but overall, it is bearable. This is possible because there are pain management measures in place during and after the surgery to help reduce the amount of discomfort felt throughout the process. During a jaw surgery, you will be placed under general anaesthesia (GA) so that you are completely unconscious and unable to feel pain.

Thanks for the question. The cost of a jaw surgery in Singapore costs upward of $10,000. This excludes fees for pre and post orthodontics, anaesthetist, operating theatre, hospital admissions. Jaw surgery is a highly technical procedure practiced by oral & maxillofacial surgeons.

Thanks for the question. As jaw surgery is a surgical procedure, Medisave can be used to cover part of the fees. The amount that can be claimed is from $5,000 onwards, depending on the complexity of the procedure and subject to the Medisave withdrawal limits. During your consultation with your oral surgeon, he/she will be able to advise the amount that can be claimed based on your condition. The amount that can be claimed is based on the Table of Surgical Codes that is published by Ministry of Health.

Hi Yong Jia, Thanks for the D2D. If you are already visiting a dentist, you may ask him/her for a recommendation for a Dental Specialist in Oral & Maxillofacial surgery (oral surgeons). Oral surgeons are dentists who underwent further training for procedures that are related to the mouth, teeth, face and jaws (e. g. dental implant placement, jaw surgery). Alternatively, recommendations from friends and family are a good way to start. You may also take advantage of the internet to search for an oral surgeon.

Thanks for the question. As an oral & maxillofacial surgeon, jaw surgery is a very technical dental procedure that is under our dental specialty. Each successful case requires close teamwork and communication between an oral surgeon and orthodontist. Your oral surgeon will first determine what type of corrective jaw surgical procedure is appropriate in your case. He/she is also the one carrying out the procedure. I normally do a joint consultation with an orthodontist at our group practice for my patients so that they are clear of the entire process – orthodontics and surgery.

Thanks for the question. Not proceeding with a jaw surgery does not bring about any risks per se, however it means that you may continue to face certain functional difficulties associated to a protruding jaw (underbite) such as: Inefficient biting and chewing Worn down tooth enamel, increasing susceptibility to tooth decay, sensitivity and other dental issues Chronic headaches and temporomandibular joint disorder Affected speech clarity Aesthetically, you may also find that your jaw/face is imbalance or your chin seems more prominent.

Thanks for the D2D. Jaw surgery is generally a safe procedure and serious complications arising from the surgery are not common. You can refer to this question: “What are the risks of jaw surgery? ”, for the list of short and long term risks of a jaw surgery. Immediately after the surgery, bleeding, swelling, soreness and numbness is expected. These are not complications. Bleeding in the mouth (operation site) or nose may be observed for up to two weeks. Swelling and bruising should take about one week before it starts to reduce.