Symptoms of jaw dislocation
- Bite feels off or abnormal
- Difficulty talking or moving jaw
- Inability to close mouth completely
- Drooling due to inability to shut mouth completely
- Teeth feel out of alignment
- Loud crunch noise occurring right up against the eardrum
- Mild to chronic headaches
- Muscle tension or pain in the face, jaw, and neck
- Sleep deprivation and tiredness/lethargy
- Frustration and bursts of anger or short fuse
- Difficulty performing everyday tasks
- Depression and social issues relating to difficulty talking
- Hearing sensitivity, particularly to high pitched sounds
- Tinnitus
- Pain when seated associated with posture while at a computer and reading books
- Possible facial asymmetry
- Fractured jaw symptoms include bleeding from the mouth, inability to open the mouth wide without pain, bruising and swelling of the face, difficulty eating, loss of feeling in the face (specifically the lower lip), and limited range of motion of the jaw
Anatomy and pathophysiology of jaw dislocation
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is involved in jaw dislocation
- Membranes surrounding the bones aid in jaw movement
- Closing the mouth requires the masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid muscles
- Opening the jaw requires the lateral pterygoid muscle
- Four positions of jaw dislocation: posterior, anterior, superior, and lateral
- Anterior dislocation shifts the lower jaw forward
- Posterior dislocation pushes the jaw back
- Superior dislocations occur after being punched below the mandibular ramus
- Lateral dislocations move the mandibular condyle away from the skull
- Posterior, superior, and lateral dislocations are uncommon and result from high-energy trauma
- Anterior dislocations are more often the result of low-energy trauma or medical conditions affecting joint stability
Diagnosis of jaw dislocation
- Clinical history and examination are crucial for diagnosis
- X-ray radiographies and computed tomography aid in determining the position of the mandibular condyle
- Possible associated fractures or soft tissue injuries should be assessed
- Attention must be paid to possible other injuries, particularly to the skull and cervical spine
- Neurological status should be examined, especially for complex dislocations involving temporal bone fractures
Treatment of jaw dislocation
- Most temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are self-limiting and simple treatment is sufficient
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDs) can be used on a short-term, regular basis
- Chronic TMD may require a team approach involving various healthcare professionals
- Jaw dislocations should be repositioned by a trained medical professional
- Numbing medications or sedation may be needed to relax the jaw muscle
- Surgery may be necessary in severe cases
- Treatment modalities include patient education, self-care practices, medication, physical therapy, splints, psychological counseling, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and arthrocentesis
Epidemiology and causes of jaw dislocation
- Jaw dislocation commonly occurs in car, motorcycle, and sports-related accidents.
- This injury can happen to anyone, regardless of age or gender.
- Most people who dislocate their jaw do not seek emergency medical care.
- Acute jaw dislocations can often be corrected with minor manipulations.
- A study reported only 37 cases of dislocated jaw out of 100,000 yearly visits to an emergency medical site over a seven-year period.
- Causes of jaw dislocation include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, sports-related activities, trauma to the jaw area, and forceful impact or blow to the face.
The article's lead section may need to be rewritten. (February 2023) |
Dislocations occur when two bones that originally met at the joint detach. Dislocations should not be confused with subluxation. Subluxation is when the joint is still partially attached to the bone.
| Dislocation of jaw | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sagittal section of the articulation of the mandible. | |
| Specialty | Emergency medicine  |
When a person has a dislocated jaw it is difficult to open and close the mouth. Dislocation can occur following a series of events if the jaw locks while open or unable to close. If the jaw is dislocated, it may cause an extreme headache or inability to concentrate. When the muscle's alignment is out of sync, a pain will occur due to unwanted rotation of the jaw.
If the pain remains constant, it may require surgery to realign the jaw. Depending on the severity of the jaw's dislocation, pain relief such as paracetamol may assist to alleviate the initial chronic pain. If the pain relief is taken for an extended period of time, it may negatively affect the person while talking, eating, drinking, etc.
