Dislocated Jaw - Symptoms - Better Medicine

What are the symptoms of a dislocated jaw?

Symptoms of a dislocated jaw include pain in or around the jaw, the misalignment of teeth, and forward movement of the jaw beyond its regular position. Other symptoms include difficulty opening and closing the mouth.

Common symptoms of a dislocated jaw

You may experience all or just a few dislocated jaw symptoms. Any of these dislocated jaw symptoms can be severe:

Bruising or bleeding around your jaw
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
Difficulty speaking
Drooling
Jaw or face pain, especially in the region just in front of and below the ears on each side
Misalignment of your teeth
Protrusion of your lower jaw forward
Swelling of your jaw or face

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some rare cases, a dislocated jaw can be life threatening. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms:

Confusion or loss of consciousness for even a brief moment
Difficulty breathing
Profuse bleeding from the dislocated jaw
Severe neck pain
Vision loss or changes

INTRODUCTION

What is a dislocated jaw?

The jawbone, known as the mandible, fits into a joint on each side of the head (temporomandibular joints or TMJs) and becomes dislocated when the bone slides out of these joints. A dislocated jaw may be caused by forceful yawning or by an impact or force, such as being punched in the face or being in a car accident.... Read more about dislocated jaw introduction

CAUSES

What causes a dislocated jaw?

A dislocated jaw can be caused by forceful yawning or by some sort of trauma or impact with the face. Common causes of jaw dislocation include a punch to the face, sports injuries, and car accidents.... Read more about dislocated jaw causes

TREATMENTS

How is a dislocated jaw treated?

A dislocated jaw must be put back into place. Because the jaw muscles are so strong, this may require numbing medications and muscle relaxants. Once the jaw has been restored to its normal position, motion of the jaw must be limited to prevent it from dislocating again.... Read more about dislocated jaw treatments