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Broken Jaw: Causes, Prevention, Treatments, and Everything You Need to Know
It’s one of those moments you hope you never have to face. You’ve taken a fall, been hit during a game, or had an accident, and now your jaw hurts a lot. You might be wondering: Is it broken? What should I do next? How bad is it? A broken jaw is more than just a painful injury because it can affect how you eat, speak, and even breathe. In this guide, our South Perth Dentist will help you understand what to do if you or someone you know has a jaw injury.
What Is a Broken Jaw?
A broken jaw happens if the lower bone in your face that supports your mouth and teeth cracks or breaks. It is considered a serious injury, and you should not wait to see what will happen next because it can affect how to speak, eat, or even breathe.
The sooner you seek help from an experienced Emergency Dentist Perth, the lower the risk of further complications.
Common Causes of a Broken Jaw
A broken jaw can happen more easily than you may expect, often during everyday activities when you least expect it. Below, you can see some of the most common causes.
Falls and Accidents: Your jaw may break if you slip on a wet floor, suddenly fall off a bike, or even accidents at home!
Sports Injuries: You may experience jaw injury during some activities like football, rugby, or boxing, which is why wearing Mouthguards can be really helpful.
Car and Motorbike Accidents: Sometimes, even small collisions may hurt your jaw and cause you a lot of pain. Make sure you use seatbelts and helmets to reduce the risk of jaw injuries during an accident.
Workplace Incidents: People whose jobs involve construction or working with heavy machinery may have an increased risk of a broken jaw. Please remember that following proper safety guidelines while working can minimise these dangers.
Physical Altercations: A fractured or broken jaw may also happen during a fight or an assault. If your jaw is injured during fights, seek medical care immediately.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
If you’re not sure whether your jaw is broken, look at the following signs to help you understand how serious your situation is:
Pain in the jaw: If you’re feeling pain in your jaw, especially when you try to open or close your mouth, it could be a sign of a break that needs immediate attention.
Swelling or bruising: Check your jaw, cheeks, or chin to see if there are signs of bruising or swelling. If these areas have gotten bruised or swollen after a jaw injury, it could mean that you are dealing with a broken bone.
Loose or misaligned teeth: If your teeth feel loose, don’t fit together properly, or your bite suddenly feels different, it could indicate that the jawbone may have shifted or possibly cracked.
Numbness: If your chin or lower lip feels numb or has a tingly sensation, it could mean that your jaw is injured and pressing on nearby nerves.
Jaw looks crooked: If your jaw is fractured, you may notice that it looks crooked or has shifted to one side.
Difficulty chewing or speaking: A broken jaw can cause you to have difficulty chewing foods, speaking clearly, or even opening your mouth without pain.
Bleeding inside your mouth: Bleeding inside your mouth or from your gums, especially after an injury, could indicate that there is a cut or fracture in the jawbone.
Immediate Steps to Take After an Injury
It is understandable to feel stressed if you think your jaw may be broken but staying calm and acting quickly is so important. When you know what the right steps are, you can minimise the damage as much as possible. Here’s what you should do right after a broken jaw:
Seek Emergency Care: If you think your jaw might be broken, it’s important to get medical help without delay. You can visit a hospital’s emergency department or call your local emergency dentist, like Acts Dental in Perth. They’ll assess the injury and decide the best course of action to keep you safe and comfortable.
Stabilise the Jaw: You can use a cloth, scarf, or bandage to support your jaw and prevent the injury from getting worse. Try to gently wrap something around your head and under your jaw to help keep it in place until you can get medical help. Make sure it is firm enough to keep your jaw stable, but not too tight to make the pain worse.
Avoid Movement: Try to keep your jaw as still as possible to help reduce pain and prevent the injury from getting worse. Try not to talk, chew, or open your mouth widely. Staying as calm and still as possible will help avoid complications before you can receive treatment.
Do Not Attempt to Realign: Try to fight the temptation and do not attempt to push your jaw back into place yourself because it can make things worse. Doctors and dentists are the ones who know how to fix your jaw and handle the situation safely without causing more pain or damage.
Diagnosis: How Professionals Confirm a Broken Jaw
When you get to the hospital or emergency dentist, they’ll check your jaw carefully to see what’s going on. Below, you’ll see the usual steps medical or dental professionals may take to check if your jaw is broken and how serious the injury is:
Physical Examination: The doctor or dentist will carefully check your jaw and face to see if there is any sign of bruising or swelling and to see if your jaw is moving the way it should. They may also gently touch the area to check for any bumps, check if you’re in pain, or see if there are changes in how your jaw fits together. These steps help them understand how severe the injury is before doing imaging tests.
Imaging Tests: In case your dentist or doctor suspects that there is a fracture in your jaw, they will probably send you for an X-ray or CT scan. These images help them see the bone clearly and understand where the fracture is and how bad it may be. While an X-ray provides your dentist with a quick look, the dentist or doctor may also need a CT scan to see more details, especially if the break is complicated or near other bones in the face.
Treatment Options Available for a Broken Jaw
Mild Fractures
If your jaw is only a little cracked or displaced, it may heal and get better on its own. You can rest your jaw as much as possible, take over-the-counter or prescribed medications, and have soft foods or a liquid diet to avoid putting too much pressure on your jaw to feel better. Most people with mild jaw fractures heal within a few weeks.
Severe Fractures
In more severe cases of a broken jaw, and if the jawbone is badly damaged, broken, or displaced, surgery may be needed to fix the issue. This could include wiring the jaw shut to keep it in place or adding metal plates and screws to hold the bones together.
Recovery and Healing Process
Please remember that broken jaws take time to heal, but with the right care and treatment, you can feel better soon. How serious your jaw was injured and what treatment you receive can also affect your recovery time.
Dietary Adjustments: You may need to stick to a soft or liquid diet for a while to give your jaw a chance to heal. Your diet can contain soups, smoothies, mashed vegetables, and other easy-to-eat options. Stay away from chewy or hard foods because they can put too much pressure on your jaw.
Pain Management: Your doctor or dentist may give you some pain medication to help with pain, especially within the first days after your jaw was just injured or after you had surgery to fix things. These medications can help reduce inflammation and make you feel better.
Follow-Up Appointments: Regular check-ups with your dentist or surgeon are essential to make sure your jaw is healing properly. During these visits, your dentist or doctor can check how things are going with your recovery, make changes if needed, and catch any problems early.
Physical Therapy: If you had to keep your jaw still and without any movements for a while, you might need some gentle exercises to help it move properly again and feel flexible. Your doctor or a physical therapist can show you the right way to do this so your jaw can work properly again.
Healing Time: How fast your jaw heals depends on how badly it was injured and your overall health. Most people get better in a few weeks to a few months, but following your care plan closely can help things go smoothly.
Potential Complications to Be Aware Of
While most broken jaws heal well with the right care, there are some possible complications that you need to know about:
Infection: If the fracture is open or if there are cuts inside your mouth, it may lead to an infection. Signs to be aware of include swelling, redness, warmth around the area, or a fever.
Nerve Damage: In some cases, a broken jaw can press on nerves in your face. This might cause numbness or a tingling feeling in your chin, lips, or lower face.
Misalignment: If the jaw doesn’t heal properly, it can affect how your teeth fit together when you bite. This can make eating and speaking more difficult, and sometimes, it can change the way your jaw looks.
Chronic Pain: Some people may experience jaw pain even after the fracture in the jaw has healed. This ongoing pain might be because of muscle tension, nerve sensitivity, or problems with how your jaw healed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I still talk if I have a broken jaw?
Yes, but talking with a broken jaw might be painful and difficult. Speaking may make things worse, so try not to talk too much until you get medical help.
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Can a broken jaw heal on its own without treatment?
If your jaw is seriously injured or broken, you definitely need proper medical care. Without treatment, your broken jawbone may heal incorrectly and lead to problems with your bite, speech, or jaw function.
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How do I know if my jaw is broken or just bruised?
If your jaw is bruised, you'll be in pain, and there will be swelling. However, if your jaw is broken, besides pain, you will have difficulty moving your mouth, you will notice changes in your bite, and you may experience numbness. In any case, after a jaw injury, you should visit your dentist or doctor to see what you should do to feel better.
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Will I need to stay overnight in the hospital?
Not always. It depends on how severe the fracture is and whether surgery is needed.
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Can I eat normally after a jaw injury?
Probably not. A soft or liquid diet is usually necessary to avoid moving the jaw and to help with healing.
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Can a broken jaw cause long-term problems?
If you do not seek treatment and if it's not treated properly, your jaw may cause you ongoing discomfort. Long-term issues can include chronic pain, bite problems, or jaw stiffness.
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What should I do if my child has a broken jaw?
If you think your child has a broken jaw, go to the emergency room immediately. Children's bones are still developing, so early medical treatment is critical to prevent long-term complications.
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Is a broken jaw the same as a dislocated jaw?
No, but they can happen together. A dislocated jaw means the jawbone has moved out of its normal place but isn’t broken.
We’re Here to Help You Feel Better
A broken jaw can turn your day upside down, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. Our Emergency Dentist Perth is here to offer precise care and continuous support to help you heal and feel at ease. For immediate assistance, call us at (08) 9474 5083.
We are also proud to be a HBF preferred provider, Medibank preferred provider, Bupa preferred provider, HCF preferred provider, and NIB preferred provider dentist in Perth.