Jaw Symptoms - Causes - Better Medicine

What causes jaw symptoms?

Jaw symptoms are the result of many conditions, including inflammation, infection, malignancy, trauma, genetic diseases and disorders, and birth defects. Common disorders that cause jaw symptoms include temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching). Osteonecrosis of the jaw causes jaw symptoms from the temporary or permanent loss of blood to bone tissue, which leads to death of the tissue and eventual collapse of the bone.

Localized causes of jaw symptoms

Jaw symptoms may be caused by jaw injury, dysfunction, or disease including:

Benign or malignant tumors
Dislocations
Fractures
Infection or abscess of the jawbone
Periodontal disease
Poorly fitting dentures or dental appliances
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

Other causes of jaw symptoms

Jaw symptoms may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:

Cancers
Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
Neurological conditions
Osteoarthritis
Osteonecrosis
Rheumatoid arthritis

Serious or life-threatening causes of jaw symptoms

Rarely, jaw symptoms can arise as a consequence of serious or even life-threatening causes including:

Head injury or trauma
Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
Malignant tumors

Questions for diagnosing the cause of jaw symptoms

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your jaw symptoms including:

How long have you had the jaw symptoms?
What other symptoms are you experiencing?
When do your symptoms occur?
Have you had a recent injury of any kind?

What are the potential complications of jaw symptoms?

Because jaw symptoms can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

Airway blockage
Chronic pain
Difficulty eating
Heart failure
Problems aligning the teeth
Severe infection
Sleep problems
Spread of cancer
Uneven face (asymmetry)

References:

Jaw injuries and disorders. Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/jawinjuriesanddisorders.html. Accessed April 25, 2011.

Jaw - broken or dislocated. Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000019.htm. Accessed April 25, 2011.

INTRODUCTION

What are the signs of jaw problems?

Jaw symptoms develop from a number of causes. Most commonly, people have jaw pain that is the result of a dysfunction of the jaw muscles and joint. Trauma to the jaw can result in dislocation of the joint or fracture of the jawbone. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), as well as teeth grinding and jaw clenching (bruxism), are joint and bite disorders that can result in jaw symptoms. Ja... Read more about jaw symptoms introduction

SYMPTOMS

What other symptoms might occur with jaw symptoms?

Jaw symptoms may accompany other symptoms, which will vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the digestive tract may also involve other body systems.... Read more about jaw symptoms symptoms