A broken jaw is an injury that causes a fracture of your mandible or maxilla. You could suffer a broken jaw even if excessive pressure is applied around your facial area during an accident, assault, or vigorous sport. Jaw fractures are the second most common facial injury after nasal fractures. They are characterized by bleeding around the mouth and nose, bruising around the cheeks, severe swelling and pain around the face, and sometimes trouble breathing.
When left unattended, a broken jaw can cause severe dental and overall health complications. Therefore, if you have had trauma and suspect you may have a broken jaw, you must seek emergency dental care. Your dentist will perform different diagnostic tests to determine the nature and extent of your fracture before recommending the right treatment.
Although most people who have suffered a broken jaw can achieve full recovery, it may take a while. Suffering from a jaw fracture can be a traumatizing experience. Therefore, you will need our expert dental services at The Lakewood Dentist for our patients seeking emergency dental care in Lakewood, CA.
What is a Broken Jaw?
A broken jaw is a fracture in your jawbone. The jawbone is the only movable bone of the skull and shares joints with the temporal bone. Your jawbone holds the teeth and is responsible for chewing. A broken jaw may be a result of:
- Assault. You could suffer a broken jaw if you are a victim of physical assault. This occurs when someone uses a fist or hard object to strike your face. The extent of the force used could determine the severity of the injury.
- Trips and falls. If you fall and hit your head on a hard surface, you could suffer different injuries, including a broken nasal bone and jawbone.
- Sports injuries. There is a risk of suffering a fracture to your jawbone if you engage in contact sports.
- Vehicle accidents. Car, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents could cause severe injuries to your head and jaw, including a broken jaw. Whether you are a passenger or a pedestrian walking on the road, the impact from the collision may be too much for your body to absorb. The risk of suffering a broken jaw is increased when you do not take protective measures like wearing a helmet or a seatbelt.
Symptoms of a Broken Jaw
Understanding the symptoms of a broken jaw is essential to seeking emergency dental care in case you suffer such an injury. If you have suffered trauma to the head or face, you must look out for the following symptoms:
- Bleeding from the mouth or nose. A jaw fracture is the second most common facial injury from a nasal bone break. If, after a traumatic event, you notice substantial bleeding from the mouth and nose, you must seek emergency dental care.
- Bruising on the jaw or cheek. A broken jaw may manifest as a bruised or swollen cheek. Bruising occurs when blood pools form under your skin, often caused by the bursting of tiny blood vessels. Coupled with other symptoms, swelling and bruising of your cheek may indicate jaw fractures.
- Loose or chipped teeth. Trauma to the facial bones and muscles will not only break your jaw but can also cause damage to your teeth. If your teeth feel loose or break after a facial injury, you could have suffered a jaw fracture, and you will need immediate attention.
- Difficulty breathing. A broken or fractured jaw can block your airways, making it difficult for you to breathe. Therefore, if you experience shortness of breath after a facial injury, you may need an evaluation to determine whether your jaw is broken.
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth. Depending on the extent of your jaw fracture, you may experience severe pain when you open or close your mouth. This will make it difficult for you to speak or chew your food.
- Pain in the ears. Your jawbone extends from the mouth to the ears. Depending on the location of the jaw fracture, you can experience ear pain. The pain may radiate through your headache, causing a severe headache.
Diagnosis and Treatment of a Broken Jaw
When you seek emergency dental care with symptoms of a broken jaw, the dentist will note down the cause of your facial trauma or instances that could have resulted in the injury. In addition to a physical examination of your symptoms, the following tests could be ordered to determine the extent of your injury:
- X-rays. An X-ray is an imaging study that takes pictures of your soft tissues and bones. This diagnostic procedure uses safe radiation energy to diagnose different conditions. While some jaw fractures may be obvious, an X-ray may be necessary to identify minor fractures and their exact location.
- Computerized tomography scan. A CT scan is an imaging test that guides healthcare professionals in determining the extent of an injury or disease. A CT scan will often be used to identify fractures or injuries that are not visible with a regular X-ray.
In determining the proper treatment for your broken jaw, the dentist will consider the extent and exact location of the fracture. Additionally, the number of fractures you have on the law could be significant in determining the appropriate treatment.
Your treatment for a broken jaw aims to reduce the pain and discomfort from the injury, correct the fracture, and restore your normal jaw function. You may receive medication for a mild-to-moderate fracture to ease the pain and prevent infection. Additionally, the dentist will advise that you stay on a liquid diet for several weeks to avoid straining the jaw.
With time, your broken jaw will recover, and its normal function will be restored. While your body recovers from a broken jaw, you can take the prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and place ice cubes on your face to ease the swelling.
On the other hand, if the imaging and diagnostic tests indicate a severe jaw fracture, you may need surgery to correct the injury.
Surgery for a Broken Jaw
Broken jaw injuries vary in severity. In most cases, the cause of the fracture may be a significant determining factor in its extent and treatment. For most oral health conditions, surgical treatment is the last option to deal with the injury.
If surgery is the only treatment available for your condition, your oral surgeon will discuss it with you. At this point, you can inform them of any allergic reactions you may have to the metals used for the procedure or medications.
A broken jaw often causes severe pain and discomfort. To avoid further pain, surgery to treat the injury is performed under general anesthesia. After administering anesthesia, the oral surgeon will make an incision through your skin and gums to access the jaw. Depending on the extent of the fracture, a broken jaw will be attached back together using screws or plates. When the reconstruction of your jaw ends, the incision will be stitched up.
Sometimes, a surgeon will place elastic bands around the jaw to guide it to the right position after surgery. The elastic bands will be attached using braces or tiny wires. Sometimes, a broken jaw injury can cause a severe and irreparable injury to a tooth. During the surgical procedure, the damaged teeth may be removed.
Your surgeon will advise that you wait for your jaw to heal before undergoing other procedures, like tooth replacement through a dental implant. This ensures complete recovery of the jaw and makes it strong enough to support the restorations.
Surgery for a broken jaw is not a minor procedure. Therefore, you may need to spend a night in the hospital following the surgery. Before you leave the hospital, an X-ray may be performed to check the new position of the jaw. Your body may take a while to recover from a broken jaw surgery.
You could experience soreness, slight pain, and discomfort during the first few weeks after the surgery. The oral surgeon will prescribe some pain medications to ease the discomfort and antibiotics to prevent infection of the surgical site. Other care instructions that the surgeon can recommend to ensure fast healing of your broken jaw surgery are to avoid strenuous activities and rest from ordinary activities for a few days.
Failure to follow the right instructions after a broken jaw surgery could result in the following issues:
- Infection. Failure to eat the antibiotics prescribed to you correctly after the surgery can cause you to develop an infection. This could affect not only your oral health but also your overall well-being.
- Excessive bleeding. Since jaw surgery is an invasive procedure, you could experience bleeding during and after the procedure. However, when the bleeding does not stop or is excessive, you may need to seek emergency intervention.
- Bruising or damage to facial nerves. Undergoing a surgical procedure to correct your broken jaw could result in bruising of the nerve ending through your lower lip and chin. A nerve injury is numbness and tingling sensations around the affected area.
- Teeth damage. Fixing a broken jaw involves the use of wires and screws to attach the fractured parts. These screws can damage adjacent teeth, causing further oral health complications.
You can avoid the complications associated with broken jaw surgery by ensuring that you seek expert emergency dental services for your injury.
Complications of a Broken Jaw
A broken jaw is not something to ignore or wait to book an appointment. If you experience the symptoms of a jaw fracture, you must seek emergency care. If left unattended or if you wait too long to seek dental care, you could suffer the following complications associated with the injury:
- Airway blockage. A broken jaw can obstruct your airways, characterized by discomfort or difficulty breathing. When you don’t get enough air in your lungs, you will have difficulty sleeping, affecting your overall energy and ability to engage in routine activities.
- Excessive bleeding. The injury caused by a broken jaw may vary in severity. Depending on the cause of the injury, failing to seek immediate care could result in excessive bleeding, which can cause severe health problems or even death. If you notice bleeding from the mouth or nose.
- Difficulty eating or speaking. When you suffer from a broken jaw, you need emergency treatment. While you may experience pain and discomfort after the injury, the condition could worsen when left unattended. In severe cases, a broken jaw will prevent you from eating or speaking properly.
- Jaw infection. When you fail to seek treatment for your broken jaw, you can develop an infection in the temporomandibular joint. This is a severe condition that could be life-threatening. Therefore, if you experience the early signs of a jaw fracture, you must seek immediate care.
- Teeth alignment issues. One of the most common complications associated with a broken jaw is misalignment of the bite. You will notice that your teeth do not connect correctly when you have an untreated jawbone fracture. The tooth misalignment issues stem from a shift in the mandible, which could vary depending on the severity of the jaw break.
- Temporomandibular joint disorder. Temporomandibular joint disorders affect the muscles and joints responsible for chewing and biting. Individuals who have suffered a broken jaw may be at risk of developing TMJ.
Frequently Asked Questions on Broken Jaw Injuries
A broken jaw is one of the most severe injuries you can suffer on your face. The injury causes pain and discomfort and can affect breathing, eating, and speaking functions. If you experience the symptoms of a fractured jaw, you may be unsure of what to expect for diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The following are frequently asked questions about a fractured jaw:
When should I call a healthcare provider after treatment for a broken jaw?
Your treatment plan for a broken jaw is based on the cause of the injury and the extent of damage done to the jaw. You can receive medication and homecare instructions or undergo a surgical procedure to restore your jaw to its normal function. If you experience any of the following symptoms during your recovery journey from a broken jaw, you should seek immediate intervention:
- Persistent pain. After surgery for a broken jaw or when you receive medications and follow the home care instructions, your pain is expected to subside. If the pain persists even after these interventions, you may need to seek further treatment. Sometimes, a dentist may misdiagnose the extent of your condition and offer treatment that is not good enough given your injury. For example, if your pain does not go away with medication and homecare, you may need surgical intervention.
- Fever and excessive swelling. If, after treatment or intervention for your broken jaw, you experience a fever or swelling that does not subside, you need emergency care. The fever may indicate more serious issues, like a jaw infection.
- Shortness of breath. Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a feeling that you cannot get enough air into your lungs. If you experience this after a jaw fracture, you must seek immediate care.
What is the difference between a broken and a dislocated jaw?
When your mandible or maxilla pulls away from the joint, you suffer from a dislocated jaw. With a dislocated jaw, speaking or chewing your food could become problematic. However, dislocating a jaw does not mean it is broken. Therefore, the approach for diagnosis and treatment will be different. Some of the symptoms of a dislocated jaw include:
- Difficulty moving the jaw.
- Teeth misalignment.
- Severe pain when chewing or speaking.
- Inability to close your mouth.
Treatment options for a dislocated jaw could include:
- Manual repositioning. Dislocating your jaw does not mean it is broken. Therefore, a dentist can manually reposition it by putting their fingers below your mouth and manipulating the jaw until it sits in the correct position.
- Barton bandage. A dentist can wrap a bandage around the back of your head to help the jaw remain still while it heals and returns to its normal position.
- Surgery. Although a dislocated jaw is not as severe as a jaw fracture, your dentist can recommend that you undergo surgery to tighten the ligaments that support the jaw and prevent further complications.
Can a broken jaw be prevented?
Most people who suffer a broken jaw are victims of accidents or traumatic events. While some accidents are inevitable, you could take the following steps to minimize the risk of suffering an injury:
- Wear a helmet when riding a scooter, bike, or motorcycle. A common cause of broken jaw injuries is motorcycle accidents. Since motorcycles and bikes have no other protection, a collision can severely impact your body. Wearing a full-head helmet protects your head and face in an accident.
- Wear a mouthguard when playing protective sports. Unfortunately, you can suffer a head injury and a broken jaw while you enjoy your favorite sport. In most cases, such an injury can be from an accidental fall or when the ball hits your face. You should consider wearing a mouth guard for jaw and tooth protection if you play contact sports.
- Wear a seatbelt when driving. In a car accident, you can suffer a broken jaw if the impact of the collision causes your head and face to hit the vehicle dashboard. However, having a seatbelt on can protect you from the impact and reduce the chance of facial injuries.
- Wear protective headgear for specific jobs. Protective headgear is essential if you work on a job involving regular activity where you could hit your head with a heavy machine or object.
How long will recovery from a broken jaw take?
If you undergo surgical treatment for your broken jaw, the recovery could be faster. However, it may take weeks for your broken jaw to heal with medication and home remedies. You can speed up the healing process by following these care tips:
- Stick to a soft and liquid diet. Whether you undergo surgery or receive medications for your broken jaw, chewing your food could be challenging. Therefore, a liquid diet ensures your body receives the right nutrition without straining the jaw. The foods that could be recommended include condensed soups, fruit salad, yogurt, and oatmeal.
- Use a dental rinse. While you must always maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth, opening your mouth might be painful and compromise the healing of a broken jaw. Therefore, you should avoid brushing your teeth during recovery and use a dental rinse to clean your mouth.
- Use ice packs. The swelling on your face may not disappear immediately after your surgery or when you start taking medication for your broken jaw. You can reduce the swelling from a broken jaw by placing ice packs on your face.
- Carry a wire cutter after surgery. If your surgery involves shutting your broken jaw, you should carry around a wire cutter to loosen the wires if you feel like you are choking or you want to throw up.
- Take a rest. Your body will heal faster if you rest from work and other strenuous activities. While you sneeze or yawn, you can place your hand under your chin to prevent jaw movement.
Find Expert Emergency Dental Services Near Me
You could suffer from a broken jaw if excessive pressure on your face causes the jawbone to fracture or crack. A broken jaw is likely to cause severe pain and discomfort. This could make it challenging for you to chew your food or talk. A broken jaw can also block your airways, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
A broken jaw can be a result of various instances that cause trauma to your facial bones and muscles. You may have a broken jaw if you experience symptoms such as severe jaw pain, swelling, and bruising around the face, chin, and lower lip numbness. A fractured or broken jaw is an emergency that requires you to seek immediate intervention.
When you consult your dentist with symptoms of a broken jaw, they will perform different diagnostic tests to determine the extent of your injury. Standard treatment options that could be recommended for your broken jaw include medications, surgery, and physical therapy to restore normal function. At The Lakewood Dentist, we offer safe and reliable services for all our clients dealing with dental emergencies like a broken jaw in Lakewood, CA. Call us today at 562-423-1441 to book an appointment.