A broken jaw occurs when your maxilla or mandible is fractured, making eating, speaking, and smiling uncomfortable. You could experience these injuries from a car accident, falling, or even an impact when playing sports. These injuries need medical attention lest they complicate or heal wrongly. If a fractured jaw goes untreated, you could start experiencing severe pain, improper alignment of the jaws, and further deterioration of your oral health.
Proper treatment helps stabilize the jaw and minimize the risk of developing other problems. An experienced dentist can tell the extent of the damage and present options for the recovery process and ensuing treatment. Therefore, delaying consulting a dentist only prolongs your condition and makes the chances of attaining complete recovery slim. Timely action relieves discomfort and helps preserve your ability to eat, speak, and smile without fear or pain. If you are in Hawthorne and have a broken jaw, get in touch with us at The Hawthorne Dentist for treatment.
What is a Broken Jaw?
A broken jaw is a severe injury that impacts your jaw, thus affecting your ability to speak, drink, and breathe. The jaw is an active part of most people’s day-to-day activities, so a fracture can hinder your life differently.
High-impact events often lead to jaw fractures. In contact sports like football, rugby, or boxing, the impact forces applied may be significantly high enough to cause a fracture to the jaw. A hard blow with the elbow, punch, knee, or a ball to the face will result in a fracture if the impact causes the jawbone to move beyond its limits. These injuries also include damage to the teeth, gums, or adjacent tissues, which causes additional complications.
Another common cause of jaw fractures is road accidents, especially car accidents. The impact of an accident can violently shift the weight and cause the face to hit the wheel, the dashboard, or the side glass. Low-speed injuries usually include fractured jaws, among other facial injuries.
Falls and physical assaults also lead to broken jaws. Any fall from a substantial distance or a landing on a hard surface transmits the force to the face, resulting in a fracture. It is also very easy to fracture the jaw with a punch or a kick during an actual attack. The severity of these injuries varies with the force and the area of impact.
Symptoms that May Indicate a Possibly Fractured Jaw
Some symptoms signal a likelihood of a broken jaw. However, a dentist must assess the injury to confirm it is a facial injury. The common symptoms to look out for include the following:
- Swelling and bruising — Signs of a broken jaw include swelling and bruises on the jaw or face. The blood vessels rupture, and therefore, blood accumulates, causing swelling and making it painful to open the jaw. The swelling may sometimes spread all over the face, distorting its shape.
- Pain — Severe pain is a primary symptom of a broken jaw. It may be sharp or dull and worsen when talking, chewing, or moving the jaw. Muscle stiffening can enhance the pain, making it worse to carry out these activities.
- Limited jaw movement — Pain in the face is another sign that may be accompanied by weakness in the muscles controlling the jaw. A person with an injury cannot open or close his/her mouth or even chew and speak comfortably due to the pain. This is because you will be experiencing stiffness in the jaw.
- Misaligned teeth — A broken jaw could cause misaligned teeth. When a fracture disrupts the normal anatomical structure of the jaw, the teeth become uneven, making it almost impossible to close your mouth, which will be even more painful.
- Bleeding — You could also be bleeding around the mouth or nose. The injury could compromise the gums or teeth, or the fracture site may bleed. At times, it can also be life-threatening. In situations where massive bleeding occurs, the patient will require medical attention.
- Numbness or tingling — Some effects of a damaged nerve for a broken jaw could cause you to experience the sensation of tingling or numbness affecting the lower lip, chin, or jaw. Many people feel this sensation when a fracture has damaged the nerves.
- Pain in the ears — Earaches are also possible. The jaw and ear are closely linked, so an earache could result from an injury to the jaw. Although this may give the impression of an ear infection, the symptom is associated with the jaw injury.
- Difficulty breathing or speaking — Patients with fractured jaws experience a partial or complete inability to breathe and talk. Swelling and misalignment can block the passageway, making it difficult to articulate or breathe.
Any symptoms following a facial injury should be reported to a dentist or a physician as soon as possible.
Diagnosis of a Broken Jaw
If you report to the emergency room with a suspected fracture of the mandible or maxilla, the dentist or the doctor will investigate the facial injury and its source. The first assessment assists in determining the extent of the injury and guides the next course of action.
During the physical exam, the healthcare provider will work on evaluating for signs of pain, swelling, bruising, and limitations in the ability to open the mouth. From these observations, imaging investigations are usually ordered, specifically X-rays or CT scans. These imaging techniques can give a clear view of the jaw, which helps the doctor determine the fracture’s position, nature, and severity. Sometimes, the fracture is more complex, and the location of the fracture or associated structures needs further imaging to better understand the fracture.
Knowing the exact site and extent of the fracture is critical to therapy planning. The treatment of fractures has several goals, namely:
- To reduce pain and swelling
- Stabilize the jaw to ensure proper healing
How to Tell the Difference Between a Broken and Dislocated Jaw
When you fracture your jawbone, you have a broken jaw. Your dentist could suggest nonsurgical treatment of your broken jaw, for instance, wiring the jaw or using a splint to stabilize the fracture until it heals. Sometimes surgery is needed to rearrange the bone fragments using plates, screws, or wires, in more severe cases.
A dislocated jaw occurs when the jawbone is pushed out of its usual place in the joint. Your dentist may first use a Barton bandage to immobilize the jaw and minimize movement until professional care can be started. In more severe cases, the dentist or oral surgeon manually repositions the jaw to restore its proper alignment. Surgery could be necessary if there is severe damage to the joint or surrounding tissues, and if a dislocation recurs, even if it is not severe, surgery may be required. After repositioning, eating a soft diet and having plenty of rest is recommended. This helps with your recovery.
The difference between the two injuries is the symptoms. If you have a broken jaw, you will feel severe pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the jaw. You may feel numbness or tingling if the nerves are affected by a misalignment of the teeth. However, a dislocated jaw can make the jaw feel like it is stuck in a particular position. You may be unable to open or close your mouth, the jaw may look out of place, and there may be pain in the joint.
Treatment Options for a Broken Jaw
Based on the injury’s severity, treatment typically follows one of two approaches:
- Non-surgical
- Surgical
Non-Surgical
For minor fractures, a dentist may decide on nonsurgical procedures, like jaw wiring or splinting. These methods involve stabilizing the jaw to avoid shifting the bones and enhance correct fracture repair. These treatment options help stabilize the jaw to minimize movement, which is vital for proper healing and minimizing the development of complications.
In the recovery phase, you are supposed to consume a soft or liquid diet. Eating solid foods can threaten the correct position of the jaw, and rehabilitation may take longer or worsen the injury. The diet is designed so that you do not overexert the jaw but still have adequate nutrition while healing. Your dentist will recommend the proper diet to enhance the healing process.
Along with dietary changes, oral care is more crucial. You must keep your mouth clean to avoid any pressure on the jaw and getting an infection. This is why your dentist may prescribe certain brands of toothbrushes or particular ways the teeth are cleaned so that the newly placed bone and the teeth are not affected.
Although non-surgical methods are often effective, you should arrange follow-up visits with your dentist. These visits afford an opportunity to assess the healing process and the effectiveness of dental treatment and modify it if needed. An X-ray or any other imaging technique may be done to ensure that the fracture is healing well.
What happens when the dentist wires your mouth shut as part of the treatment?
Your dentist may suture the mouth closed to maintain immobility and ensure proper healing. This helps prevent movement, which may hinder the healing process of the broken jaw. Your dentist will then advise you on managing essential daily tasks when the mouth is wired shut.
Due to the problem that could occur to the jaw, you will have to stick to a soft or liquid-only diet. Your dentist will instruct you to use a straw or other instrument to consume liquids and eat soft and small portions like soups, smoothies, or pureed meals. It is important that you take a lot of water throughout the healing process and that you eat a balanced diet.
Your dentist will help you develop strategies to facilitate communication. You may express yourself with written notes, gestures, or an electronic device without straining the jaw during this time. Patience is key as you adjust to a temporary change in communication.
If you have an emergency, your dentist will tell you exactly what to do in case of severe pain, difficulty breathing, or if the wiring becomes loose or broken, so you know how to deal with an unexpected situation and prevent complications.
The Surgical Approach
If surgery is needed to treat a broken jaw, your oral surgeon will discuss the procedures with you and the steps that need to be taken. Severe or misaligned fractures generally require operative treatment to prevent improper and subsequent mobilization of the fracture fragments. In a surgical procedure, the surgeon or dentist will return the displaced bone fragments to the desirable positions for adequate recovery. The surgeon is going to use special plates, screws, or wires to fix the broken bones, although the kind and intensity of the fracture will determine the type of equipment to be used. This approach gives the jaw its original structure and shape and helps the body heal.
Operations for jaw fractures are not simple, requiring precision and care. The surgeon may find it necessary to correct several fragments or realign the jaw to make it stable for biting and moving. When the jaw has been secured, the surgeon will go the extra mile to ensure the bones stay in place while you heal. This will help encourage proper bone healing, ease pain, and ensure no complications like chronic misalignment or dysfunction develop.
As for risks, adequate recovery measures will be taken after the surgery to reduce the possibility to the minimum level. The actual surgeon will thoroughly explain the postsurgical instructions regarding what you are allowed to eat, how to manage pain, and how to clean your mouth. Following these instructions is essential for a proper recovery. You will be advised to take a soft or liquid diet and avoid putting any pressure on the jaw during recovery. It is also necessary to exclude the movements that might hinder the proper positioning of the fractured bones, like intense speaking or chewing.
After-care appointments will be organized to review your progress from your injuries. Throughout these visits, the surgeon will pay close attention to how the bones are healing, searching for infection, poor alignment, or other complications that may develop. Sometimes, x-rays or CT scans may be performed to evaluate the healing of the fracture. Generally, if there are healing problems, the surgeon may revise the treatment plan to advance your recovery.
During the recovery period, your oral surgeon will recommend further treatment if needed and ensure that your jaw is healing correctly, that there is no pain, and that the jaw is moving freely. In some cases, other procedures or physical therapy may be required to help regain jaw movement and correct the position of the jaw.
Recovery after jaw surgery takes time, and you must follow the surgeon’s recommended instructions to the letter. It has been established that for most people, and particularly those with minor to moderate fractures, the healing process generally takes a few months, though each person is unique.
Why You Should Adhere to Post-Treatment Care Instructions
Following surgery for a broken jaw, your oral surgeon will give you clear instructions for recovery, and you must follow these instructions closely for the healing process to go smoothly. If you fail to follow the surgeon’s instructions, you put yourself at risk of infection, nerve damage, and excessive bleeding, all of which can interfere with recovery or leave you with permanent problems.
Preventing Infection
Preventing infection is one of the most important aspects of recovery. Failure to maintain proper oral hygiene or follow prescribed care instructions can increase the risk of bacteria entering the surgical site, which could lead to infection. This, in turn, could require additional treatments like antibiotics and sometimes even more surgery. The surgeon will give you guidelines on how to clean your mouth gently without disturbing the healing bone and tissues.
Minimizing Bruising and Swelling
Another potential complication if you fail to follow postoperative guidelines is bruising. While some bruising is normal after surgery, excessive jaw movement or improper care can increase bruising and prolong recovery. Your surgeon may recommend limiting jaw movement during the initial recovery period to minimize swelling and bruising. It is important to avoid any activities that could strain the healing bone.
Protecting Facial Nerves
Failure to follow the surgeon’s advice could cause bruising, infection, and damage to the facial nerves. Since your jaw contains vital nerves necessary for sensation and movement, any disruption caused by improper care can lead to numbness, tingling, or even permanent nerve damage. Following the surgeon’s instructions carefully helps protect these nerves and prevent healing problems.
Avoiding Excessive Bleeding
Another serious risk from ignoring the recovery instructions is excessive bleeding. This can occur if the jaw is moved too much or if pressure is applied to the surgical site before the blood vessels heal enough. Your surgeon may tell you to rest your jaw and avoid activities that might cause bleeding or disturb the surgical site. If you bleed, immediate attention may be needed to correct the problem and prevent additional complications.
It Prevents Damage to Teeth and Jaw Alignment
Furthermore, you may damage your teeth if you do not care for your jaw correctly or if your jaw is not aligned properly. You could have problems with your bite or even lose teeth. Your surgeon will give you specific directions about diet, jaw movement, and activities that will not interfere with your teeth or jaw alignment during the healing process.
If you experience symptoms like fever, excessive swelling, persistent pain, or shortness of breath after your surgery, it is essential to contact your dentist immediately. These signs may point to complications such as:
- An infection
- Improper healing
- Other urgent matters
A fever can mean you have an infection. Swelling and persistent pain could mean the healing process is not progressing as it should. On the other hand, you might be short of breath, which could be something serious like respiratory distress or a clot. If you have these symptoms, the sooner you see your dentist, the quicker you can discover potential problems and address them to improve.
What Can You Do To Prevent A Broken Jaw?
Although there is no foolproof way to avoid a broken jaw, you can take steps to keep yourself safe, especially when high impact is a risk, especially in contact sports, accidents, or physical altercations. However, keep in mind that breaking a jaw is not uncommon.
For example, if you are involved in sports, wearing a mouthguard is one of the best methods to protect your jaw. Mouthguards absorb some of the shock of impacts, greatly reducing your chances of injury in any sport, especially football, boxing, basketball, or hockey, where facial injuries are more common.
Furthermore, practicing safe behavior is equally important. Whether you are driving, involved in a high-risk activity, or walking in crowded places, being aware of your surroundings can prevent accidents that may result in a broken jaw. Staying alert and avoiding dangerous situations or risky behavior like fighting can significantly reduce the risk of injury.
If you are in a fall-prone environment, like a construction site or out on a hiking trail or bike, you can minimize the impact of a fall by wearing protective equipment. Practical ways to prevent accidents are to use handrails when available, maintain balance, and avoid slippery surfaces.
While you cannot eliminate the risk, these precautions are a strong defense against a broken jaw.
Find a Dentist Near Me
A broken jaw is a serious injury. It can be difficult to know if your jaw is broken alone. However, if you see any of the above signs, you should see a professional immediately, as this can prevent long-term complications and may help prevent pain and proper healing. You worsen your injury and create more complicated issues if you delay care, but taking quick action can significantly increase your potential for a full recovery.
If you think you have a broken jaw, do not hesitate to contact The Hawthorne Dentist. We will assess and treat your condition to relieve your pain and help your jaw function normally again. We will restore your jaw’s function and alleviate your pain. Contact us at 310-775-2557 now to get started on your recovery.
