This type of jaw wiring, also known as maxillo-mandibular fixation (MMF), is used in patients with mandibular fractures or those who need orthognathic surgery to correct deformed jaws. It is performed by an oral surgeon, who attaches an "arch bar" to the upper jaw and another to the lower jaw with thin wires that are threaded between and around the teeth. The arch bars completely enwrap the dental arch. The upper and lower arch bars are connected to each other with wires or elastics, compressing the upper teeth against the lower teeth and preventing jaw movement. IMF is an invasive procedure performed under general anesthesia. Once the bones have set (usually after 4–6 weeks, sometimes two or three months), the wiring is removed under local anesthesia or nitrous oxide sedation.
