Jaw Injuries and Disorders – Symptoms & Treatment

Jaw injuries may restrict jaw mobility as well as produce extreme pain in the jaw and face. Your jaw is a group of bones that supports your teeth. There are two primary sections to it. Maxilla refers to the top portion. It does not move. The mandible is the bottom, mobile portion.

When you talk or chew, you move it. Your chin is where the mandible’s two parts connect. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the point at which your jaw and skull connect. A broken jaw may result in swelling and bruises on the face.

The lower jaw might become misaligned with the skull as a result of a dislocation. The extent of harm determines the course of medical care for a broken jaw. Medical measures are not essential in mild situations. A doctor may frequently manually realign a dislocated jaw.

Symptoms of Jaw Injuries

The following are signs of a broken jaw:

• In front of the ear or on the suffering side, there is a pain in the cheek or jaw that worsens with movement.
• Bleeding from the mouth, facial edema, and bruising.
• Stiffness in the jaw, trouble expanding the mouth widely, or difficulty closing it.
• When opening, the jaw shifts to one side.
• Jaw soreness or pain that gets worse when you bite or chew.
• Broken or loose teeth.
• Cheek or jaw lump or odd look.
• Face numbness, especially on the lower lip.

The following are signs of a dislocated jaw:

• Located in front of the ear or on the suffering side, facial or jaw pain that worsens with movement.
• “Off” or “crooked” feeling in the bite.
• Difficulty in speaking.
• Inability to close the mouth.
• Difficulty closing mouth properly, causing drooling.
• A jaw that is locked or extends forward.
• Teeth that are not correctly aligned.

Diagnosis

By getting your medical history, performing a physical examination, and ordering necessary X-rays, your doctor can determine if you have a fractured jaw or dislocated joint. An oral surgeon or dentist might take care of a straightforward dislocation. A specialist, such as a face plastic and reconstructive surgeon, a head and neck surgeon, or an oral surgeon, would be necessary for a significant fracture that needs surgery.

Treatment for Jaw Injuries

You will probably need emergency care if you hurt your jaw. Support your lower jaw while you wait for medical attention to help stabilize it and maintain an open airway.

Treating a Dislocated Jaw

When a jaw dislocates, a doctor must move the jaw back into place. Your doctor may occasionally perform this manually. To lessen the discomfort and assist your jaw muscles relax sufficiently to permit the manipulation, you will be given topical anesthesia and muscle relaxants. To restore the TMJ to its natural position in some circumstances, surgery may be necessary.

Treating a Broken Jaw

Depending on the severity of the damage, surgery may also be necessary for the treatment of a jaw fracture or break. During the immobilization of your jaw, clean fractures could heal on their own. It may be necessary to have surgery to treat multiple jawbone fractures or misplaced breaks in the area of the bone that is pushed out to one side.

The Bottom Line

Depending on the extent of the damage, the future prospects for fractured or dislocated jaws vary. The majority of the time, a small break may mend on its own without the need for medical attention.

More serious fractures will likely require supporting jaw-area medical equipment. The recovery process might take weeks or even months. Insufficient rest for the jaw might prolong the healing process. A full healing period may also take longer after surgery.