Cost for Orthognathic Surgery

More and more patients are receiving Orthognathic Surgery to correct conditions in which the jaw and facial structure are causing bite issues, TMJ, sleep disorders, speech disorders and more.  Orthognathic Surgery is usually viewed in mild to severe cases and dental braces are viewed as an option first.  Less mild cases are treated with braces and when braces do not fully correct the condition, Orthognathic Surgery is sought out.

The most common forms of Orthognathic Surgery are to correct underbite or an overbite.  In many cases braces alone cannot work to move the neither teeth nor jaws into position that is comfortable enough for the patient to live with.  However, braces can do the job and we have seen mild underbites totally fixed with braces alone, using appliances such as the palatal expander to expand the upper jaw in cases where it is too narrow.

Will Insurance Cover Orthognathic Surgery?

We have found that in many cases orthodontic dental insurance alone will not cover Orthognathic Surgery for a mild underbite or overbite.  It is deemed to be purely cosmetic and many patients report that their insurance company will not move on payment.

However, there are doctors that are confident in the right proposal to the insurance company to get your Orthognathic Surgery covered.  While this varies from insurance company, it won’t hurt to show your company all the negatives that you suffer from the condition, such as eating, TMJ, speech, etc.

Your best bet is to find a doctor that has a high rate of getting insurance company’s to cover your treatment.  If you are shopping for an insurance, you can asking supporting oral surgeons which insurance company they had best success with coverage.  In most instances, a patient has to go with what their employer provides.

Orthognathic Surgery is deemed as medical and not looked at under your dental coverage.  Look into your surgery benefits with the company for more information.

How Much Does Orthognathic Surgery Cost?

The surgery cost varies from doctor and state.  California has reported prices in excess of $15,000 and we have seen reported prices double that with really prestige and well known doctors that specialize in this procedure.  In many cases a patient only needs one jaw operated on and that is the only jaw your will pay for.  In Florida, we were notified of a case that went $8,000 to have the lower jaw pushed back in an underbite case.  This was compounded with a year of braces treatment before and after.

Orthognathic Surgery cost depends on your treatment plan and the extent of your condition.   The entire procedure while common, is still surgery and you should continue to do your research on the procedure, doctor, and cost.