Maxillomandibular Advancement

Maxillomandibular advancement, also called bimaxillary advancement, is a surgical procedure that moves both the upper jaw and lower jaw forward together, originally developed to correct facial skeletal deformities and bite misalignment. In the late 1970s clinicians noticed that advancing the lower jaw also improved daytime sleepiness in some patients, which led to its use as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, often combined with a genioglossus advancement that pulls the tongue forward to reduce airway blockage during sleep. It is typically offered after less invasive treatments such as nasal surgery or tonsillectomy have failed, and recovery takes longer than for other sleep apnea surgeries because the facial bones must heal in their new position.