Jaw wiring (also known as maxillomandibular fixation) is a surgical procedure where metal pins and wires are anchored into the jaw bones and surrounding tissues to keep an injured jaw from moving.

Jaw wiring keeps the bones aligned and stable while the jaw heals. Wiring the jaw may also be used if it's necessary to remove or reconstruct the jaw as a result of cancer or disease. Wiring the jaws shut also has been used in the past as a weight loss aid in cases of extreme obesity where other treatments had failed, although this procedure is rarely used for that purpose today.

Jaw wiring surgery can be performed by an oral surgeon or specially trained dentist called a maxillofacial surgeon, or by a doctor specializing in surgeries of the head and neck (otolaryngologist). The procedure may be done in a medical or dental office if...