Jaw - broken or dislocated
A broken jaw is a break (fracture) in the jaw bone. A dislocated jaw means the lower part of the jaw has moved out of its normal position at one or both joints where the jaw bone connects to the skull (temporomandibular joints).
Considerations
A broken or dislocated jaw usually heals well after treatment. But the jaw may become dislocated again in the future.
Complications may include:
- Airway blockage
- Bleeding
- Breathing blood or food into the lungs
- Difficulty eating (temporary)
- Difficulty talking (temporary)
- Infection of the jaw or face
- Jaw joint (TMJ) pain and other problems
- Numbness of part of the jaw or face
- Problems aligning the teeth
- Swelling
Causes
Facial fractures occur because of sudden impacts to the facial area. The bones in the face are some of the most commonly fractured in the entire body.
The jaw area is especially at risk because it sticks out from your face making it a high-risk fracture area especially in face forward falls.
The most common cause of a broken or dislocated jaw is injury to the face. This may be due to:
- Assault
- Industrial accident
- Motor vehicle accident
- Recreational or sports injury
- Trips and falls
- After a dental or medical procedure
Symptoms
A person with a broken or dislocated jaw needs medical attention right away. This is because they may have breathing problems or bleeding.
Symptoms of a broken jaw include:
- Pain in the face or jaw, located in front of the ear or on the affected side, that gets worse with movement
- Bruising and swelling of the face, bleeding from the mouth
- Difficulty chewing
- Jaw stiffness, difficulty opening the mouth widely, or problem closing the mouth
- Jaw moving to one side when opening
- Jaw tenderness or pain, worse with biting or chewing
- Loose or damaged teeth
- Lump or abnormal appearance of the cheek or jaw
- Numbness of the face (particularly the lower lip)
- Ear pain
Symptoms of a dislocated jaw include:
- Pain in the face or jaw, located in front of the ear or on the affected side, that gets worse with movement
- Bite that feels "off" or crooked
- Problems talking
- Inability to close the mouth
- Drooling because of inability to close the mouth
- Locked jaw or jaw that protrudes forward
- Teeth that do not line up properly
Treatment for Fractured Jaw
Treatment for a fractured jaw depends on how badly the bone is broken. If you have a minor fracture, it can heal on its own. You may only need pain medicines. You will probably have to eat soft foods or stay on a liquid diet for a while.
Surgery is often needed for moderate to severe fractures. The jaw may be wired to the teeth of the opposite jaw to keep the jaw stable while it heals. Jaw wires are usually left in place for 6 to 8 weeks. Small rubber bands (elastics) are used to hold the teeth together. After a few weeks, some of the elastics are removed to allow motion and reduce joint stiffness.
Treatment for Dislocated Jaw
If your jaw is dislocated, a doctor may be able to place it back into the correct position using the thumbs. Numbing medicines (anesthetics) and muscle relaxants may be needed to relax the jaw muscles.
Afterward, your jaw may need to be stabilized. This usually involves bandaging the jaw to keep the mouth from opening widely. In some cases, surgery is needed to do this, particularly if repeated jaw dislocations occur.
After dislocating your jaw, you should not open your mouth widely for at least 6 weeks. Support your jaw with one or both hands when yawning and sneezing.
If you have a fractured or dislocated jaw
- Do Not try to correct the position of the jaw. A Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon should do this.
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A broken or dislocated jaw requires prompt medical attention. Emergency symptoms include difficulty breathing or heavy bleeding.
Prevention
During work, sports, and recreation activities, using safety equipment, such as a helmet when playing football, or using mouth guards can prevent or minimize some injuries to the face or jaw.
Schedule a Facial Trauma Examination
At BC Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon can perform an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, to to determine the extent of your injuries, and allow us to formulate a treatment plan that will provide you with the best possible outcome
Schedule a Facial Trauma Examination with our Oral Surgeon >
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