NuFace Hospital on December 21, 2025.Braces can fix almost anything. Crooked teeth, crowding, gaps, you name it. But every now and then, someone goes through months of orthodontic treatment and they still feel like something is off. Their bite doesn’t feel right, their chin sits too far back, or maybe their jaw shifts to one side whenever they close their mouth. That’s usually the moment they wonder if braces alone were ever going to get the job done and should they be consulting a TMJ surgery specialist in India.
Jaw alignment problems aren’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s a small thing you notice only in photos. Other times it shows up in daily life. You bite into a sandwich and your teeth don’t meet. You wake up with jaw pain or headaches. Or your face looks slightly unbalanced and you can’t pin down why. Braces help with the teeth, sure, but when the underlying bone grows in a way that doesn’t match the rest of the structure, orthodontics can only move things so far.
That’s when maxillofacial surgeons come into the picture. Jaw surgery sounds intense. The phrase alone makes people sit a little straighter. But here’s the surprising part. It’s not as dramatic as most imagine. Modern techniques are far more precise than they used to be and the recovery process, while not exactly pleasant, is manageable with the right preparation.
Understanding When Surgery Becomes the Better Option
TMJ arthroscopy specialists in India advise to try non surgical options first. We are not eager to recommend surgery unless the jaw alignment is clearly causing problems, says Dr. Nehal Patel, one of the most renowned jaw surgery specialists in India, available at Nuface- Maxillofacial & Dental Hospital, Surat. If the upper jaw sits too far forward or the lower jaw sits too far back, braces can guide the teeth but not the bone. You can shift teeth only so much before the bite becomes unstable. And no one wants perfect teeth that still can’t chew properly.
Some people also struggle with speech issues or chronic breathing problems. A narrow upper jaw can make nasal breathing harder which leads to mouth breathing. Over time, mouth breathing changes the shape of the face and affects sleep quality. I’ve heard more than one patient describe surgery as “I didn’t want it but I’m glad I did it because I can finally breathe like a normal person.”
What the Surgery Actually Does
Jaw correction surgery in India usually focuses on one of three areas. The upper jaw, the lower jaw, or the chin. In simple words, your maxillofacial surgeon repositions the bone so it matches the ideal bite and facial structure then secures it using tiny plates and screws. They don’t set off airport scanners which people always seem relieved to hear.
For example, if the lower jaw sits too far back, surgeons can bring it forward. This change doesn’t just improve the bite. It often changes the profile of the face in a way that looks surprisingly natural. People sometimes say their reflection finally matches how they thought they looked in their head.
On the other hand, if the upper jaw is too narrow, it can be widened to make room for proper tooth alignment. That one helps with breathing too. A lot of patients say the first night of deep, quiet sleep feels almost strange after years of noisy snoring and broken rest.
What Recovery Really Feels Like
People worry the most about recovery. And yes, it’s a commitment. Swelling happens. Eating soft foods becomes your new routine for a bit. You probably won’t love soup by the end of it. But most patients describe it as uncomfortable rather than unbearable. The first week is the hardest, then everything improves slowly. Ice packs become your best friend.
The surprising part is how quickly normal life returns. Dr Nehal Patel, considered as one of the best TMJ surgery specialists in India, says that patients can speak normally and start gentle activity within a few weeks. The full healing process takes longer since bone needs time to settle but once the swelling drops, the results become clear.
So When Should You Actually Consider It
If braces alone aren’t fixing your bite or you’ve been told repeatedly that your jaw position is the root cause, it might be time to have a conversation with our jaw surgery specialists in India, Dr Nehal Patel at Nuface- Maxillofacial & Dental Hospital, Surat . And if you’ve lived with discomfort or breathing issues for years, surgery can be genuinely life changing.
Jaw surgery won’t be the right choice for everyone. But for the people who need it, braces alone were never going to be enough in the first place.
