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Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic Surgery Cost
How Much Does Orthognathic Surgery Cost?
 | With Insurance: $100+ Copays and Coinsurance |
 | Without Insurance: $20,000-$40,000+ |
Orthognathic surgery involves operating on the upper or lower jaw, or both, to correct improperly positioned jaws that can cause problems eating, breathing or speaking, as well as pain or cosmetic issues.
Typical costs:
- For patients not covered by health insurance, the typical cost of orthognathic surgery is about $20,000- $40,000, including initial consultations, the surgeon's fee, facility fee and materials and follow-up care. The cost generally tends to be at the lower end if surgery is required on only the upper or lower jaw, and on the higher end if it is required on both.
- Orthognathic surgery is covered by health insurance in some cases. For example, Aetna[1] considers orthognathic surgery medically necessary in cases where facial skeletal abnormalities contribute to sleep apnea or other breathing problems that cannot be corrected non-surgically and also for some speech impairments. However, Aetna considers the surgery cosmetic or experimental in other cases, such as for correction of unaesthetic facial features. Some insurance plans exclude orthognathic surgery unless it is reconstructive.
- For patients covered by health insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs could be as low as a $100 copay or, if the insurance company only covers a percentage of the surgery or has an orthognathic surgery cap, could reach $5,000 or more. In this orthodontic forum on ArchWired.com[2] , patients discuss out-of-pocket costs for orthognathic surgery.
What should be included:
- The surgeon works with the patient's dentist and orthodontist to make sure the patient is a good candidate and to determine the type of surgery needed. Before surgery, the doctor takes X-rays and makes molds of the patient's mouth to create a plan for surgery.
- During surgery, which usually takes one to three hours and requires general anesthesia, the surgeon cuts, adds or reshapes bone, then repositions the jaws using surgical plates, screws, wires and rubber bands.
- The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons offers an overview of orthognathic surgery[3] .
Related Costs: Braces,
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Additional costs:- Braces often are required before and after orthognathic surgery, so treatment can take two to three years. Braces can cost $1,500-$10,000 or more for traditional metal braces; $2,000-$8,500 for braces with tooth-colored ceramic or plastic brackets; $2,000-$8,500 for self-ligating braces (which don't need elastic bands); $5,000-$13,000 for lingual braces (installed behind the teeth); and $3,500-$8,000 for the Invisalign tray system.
- It takes about three weeks to recover from orthognathic surgery.
Discounts:- Patients who are paying out-of-pocket sometimes can often negotiate discounts of 20% or more by agreeing to pay in advance or paying within a certain time period.
- Teaching hospitals sometimes offer orthognathic surgery at discounted prices.
Shopping for orthognathic surgery:- The need for orthognathic surgery often is determined by a dentist or orthodontist, who can make a referral to a surgeon. Or, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has a surgeon locator by zip code[4] . It is important to look for a surgeon who has experience performing orthognathic surgery.
- Risks of orthognathic surgery include pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, damage to gums bone or teeth and mouth numbness that usually is temporary but in rare cases could be permanent. The use of general anesthesia also presents risks that could include death.
- Groups.yahoo.com offers an orthognathic surgery support forum[5] .
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
How much does BCBS cover for Orthognathic Surgery
Amount: $20,000.00 Posted by: BrianT
From: Billings, MT
Posted On: September 1st, 2023 01:09AM
Medical Center: Insurance: BCBS
Tryin to find if anyone has dealt with BCBS for lower jaw surgery (underbite).
Double Orthognathic surgery
Amount: $60,000.00 Posted by: Renee Hicks
From: Plano, TX
Posted On: March 22nd, 2022 05:03AM
Medical Center: Medical City Plano
Insurance: Aetna
surgery was December 31, 2002. Took 2 doctors and 8 hours of surgery plus 3 nights in the hospital. Insurance covered the 60k for doctors and hospital stay and I only had to pay $2000.
Double Orthognathic Surgery
Amount: $56,000.00 Posted by: KRB
From: Spokane, WA
Posted On: March 23rd, 2016 12:03PM
Medical Center: Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Insurance: Moda Health
Out of pocket cost: 56,000.00. Our insurance company has an exclusionary clause. The surgery was deemed cosmetic and our claim was denied. There were additional fees for orthodontic treatment.
Cost of surgery
Amount: $0.00 Posted by: Jaw Dad
From: Wexford, PA
Posted On: November 6th, 2015 04:11PM
Medical Center: UPMC
Insurance: We are planning my daughter's surgery. Upper, lower, turbinectomy,genioglossus (codes 21141, 21196, 21199, 30130). Our insurance said won't cover. Hospital/doctor saying fee will be $200,000!!. Does that sound right?
Double Orthognathic Surgery
Amount: $140,000.00 Posted by: KO
From: Dallas, TX
Posted On: April 12th, 2015 07:04AM
Medical Center: Major Dallas Hospital
Insurance: Our out of pocket cost with insurance was $9,000 but the total of all related costs was $140,000 (surgeon, 3 night hospital stay, etc.).
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