Dislocated jaw | |
---|---|
Other names | Temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation, dislocated mandible |
Sagittal section of the articulation of the mandible. | |
Specialty | ENT surgery |
Symptoms | Inability to close the mouth, problems speaking and chewing, pain in front of the ear [1] |
Complications | Broken bones, injury to the external auditory canal, cranial nerve injuries [1] |
Types | Anterior, posterior, superior, lateral [1] |
Causes | Physical injury, over opening the jaw, connective tissue disorders [1] |
Risk factors | Prior loss of teeth [1] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, medical imaging [1] |
Differential diagnosis | Mandible fracture, peritonsillar abscess, TMJ dysfunction, tetanus [1] |
Treatment | Reduction [1] |
Medication | Local anesthesia, procedural sedation, muscle relaxants [1] |
Prognosis | Generally good [1] |
Frequency | 2.5 per 10,000 per year [2] |
A dislocated jaw is when the condyle of the jaw bone is displaced from the joint surface of the temporal bone. [1] Symptoms may include inability to close the mouth, problems speaking and chewing, and pain in front of the ear. [1] Both sides are affected more commonly than a single side. [1] Associated complications may include broken bones, injury to the external auditory canal, and cranial nerve injuries. [1]
It may occur due to physical injury, over opening of the jaw such as with yawning, and underlying structural problems such as connective tissue disorders. [1] Risk factors include prior loss of teeth. [1] Diagnosis is often based on symptoms, though may be supported by medical imaging. [1] Types include anterior (most common), posterior, superior, and lateral. [1]
Most commonly they can be treated with closed reduction. [1] This may require local anesthesia, procedural sedation, or muscle relaxants. [1] A number of techniques exist, including pushing down on the molars and than pushing backwards on the jaw. [1] If the dislocation has been long standing, open reduction may be required. [1] That with recurrent issues may have botulinum toxin injected. [1]
A dislocated jaw affects about 2 to 3 per 10,000 people per year and about 5% of the population at some point in time. [2] Techniques to reduce jaw locations have been documented as far back as 1500 BC. [2]