Symptoms Of A Broken Jaw

An injury to one or both joints connecting your lower jawbone to the skull can result in a fractured or broken jawbone. These joints are called temporomandibular joints (TMJ). If broken, you will experience difficulties with eating and breathing; hence, the need to seek treatment.

Causes Of A Broken Jaw

Facial trauma is a major cause of a broken jaw. This trauma could result from physical assault or blows on your face, sports injury, motor accidents, industrial accidents, and accidental falls. You will experience symptoms after breaking your jaw, but you will still require a diagnosis before concluding your jaw is broken.

Symptoms Of A Broken Jaw

If your jaw is broken after an accident, you will experience pain and swelling as the immediate symptoms. Jaw swelling may affect your whole face, making your jaw stiff and painful. You may also bleed through your mouth, and the blood can block your airways, causing difficulty in bleeding. You are chewing and speech capabilities will also be affected, and, in severe cases, you may have limited or no jaw mobility. In addition to the swelling, you will experience numbness in your gums and face. The shape of your face may also be distorted, and your teeth may loosen or fall out.

When To Seek Treatment

If you experience facial trauma accompanied by significant pain, bleeding, or difficulty speaking and chewing, you should visit us for evaluation of a broken jaw. We will conduct a physical examination and X-ray to check the extent of the damage. The physical examination comprises an observation of any facial deformities, swelling, and bruising. We will also feel your jaw using our hands to establish the broken spot. Using the X-ray, we will identify the broken part of your jaw and the extent of damage, then plan a corrective surgery to fix it. For more details on the symptoms and treatment of a broken jaw, contact our office today.