Broken Jaw

What is a Broken Jaw?

A broken jaw occurs when the jawbone cracks or breaks. Most of the time, the break involves the rami, the vertical pieces that form a joint with the skull. Occasionally, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is also affected. If the jawbone is misaligned, airway obstruction can occur, making speaking, eating, and breathing hard. Seeking immediate medical help is essential to avoid complications and ensure proper healing.

Fractures vary in severity and complexity. The three fractures include:

• Simple fracture — A simple fracture keeps the bone in place with the break
• Compound fracture — This breaks the bone into multiple segments and could pierce through the skin. It risks infection
• Comminuted fracture — This fracture shatters the bone into several pieces, complicating recovery. Greenstick fractures are more common in children as they bend and partially break in such conditions.

If the rami or TMJ is damaged, an already difficult treatment becomes more complicated. A broken TMJ can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and long-term joint dysfunction. Misaligned teeth may permanently lead to bite problems, speech issues, or facial asymmetry if not treated on time.

A broken jaw is severe and needs to be fixed by a professional. If you do not receive treatment in time for your fractured jaw, you risk infection, nerve damage, and misalignment that could last a long time. Seeking an expert’s proper diagnosis and treatment will result in effective healing that restores function and prevents lasting damage.

Common Causes of Jaw Fractures

Your jaw could break if you get direct hits to your face. One of the most common causes that can make you suffer from this problem is a physical assault, where you are punched or kicked. If you play games like boxing, football, or hockey, you can sustain a jaw fracture due to the high-impact collisions that these games involve.

Motor vehicle accidents pose another major threat. Car accidents, motorcycle crashes, or pedestrian falls can lead to a jaw fracture due to the impact. Although you wear a seatbelt, sudden deceleration can pull your top half forward and hurt your face. Accidents also include slips and falls. When you slip in the bathtub, fall off a ladder, or trip over an uneven sidewalk and land directly on your chin or face.

If you work on a dangerous site like construction, you must be careful of heavy machinery and falling objects. Just one wrong move and you could end up with damage to your face, like a jaw fracture. You are also more likely to sustain a fracture if you have certain medical conditions. If you have osteoporosis, your bones are more fragile, making even a minor fall or impact dangerous. Tumors or cysts on the jawline can weaken the bone, so the bone can break under pressure, which would usually pose a threat.

Even dental procedures can cause jaw fractures, but they are less common. If the jawbone has been compromised, complications during a tooth extraction or surgery may lead to a break.

Knowing these risks allows you to take the necessary precautions, particularly:

• Playing contact sports in well-fitted safety gear decreases your chances of getting injured
• Always buckle your seatbelt while driving 
• Remain alert to potential hazards in your workplace

Symptoms that Point to a Broken Jaw

It can be challenging to tell if your jaw is broken after injury. Shock and adrenaline can mask the severity of your injuries. A few symptoms could suggest that you have a fracture and need to see a physician immediately.

1. Pain

Pain is usually the first and most intense symptom. It is not just discomfort but may be severe when you try to move your jaw, chew, or speak. Because the jaw is well connected, the pain can spread to areas like your ears or temples. You may choose not to move your jaw to relieve the pain.

2. Swelling and Bruising

Swelling and bruising follow soon after the injury. Your face may be swollen, especially your jaws, cheeks, or mouth. Bruising may not happen right away. It may take several hours or even days to appear. If it happens, it will indicate that you hurt your inner tissue and blood vessels.

3. Trouble Opening Your Mouth

If you have trouble opening your mouth, this indicates a serious problem. If you cannot open your mouth or it hurts when you try, the fractured jaw could be misaligned, or the muscles may spasm.

4. Numbness

Numbness or tingling in the lower lip, chin, or teeth is often caused by nerve compression or damage. Usually, there are important nerves that pass through the jaw. Hence, a fracture in the jaw will disturb sensation. The feeling is either partially or fully lost in these areas.

5. Misaligned Teeth

When you try to close your mouth, the misalignment of your teeth feels odd. If your teeth no longer meet properly or feel out of alignment, your jawbone has most likely fractured.

6. Visible Deformity

If the face looks different or the jaw is crooked, it is most likely a severe jaw break. If the break is serious enough, you might notice that one side of your jaw is out of line.

7. Bleeding

If the fracture is open, it means the bone has come through the skin, and bleeding could occur. Whether it is an internal break or not, you might notice bleeding from the mouth or within soft tissues.

8. Difficulty Eating and Speaking

Moreover, it becomes difficult to speak or eat because moving the jaw is painful or impossible. Slurred speech and difficulty speaking or chewing food are clear indications of a serious injury.

9. Hearing Difficulty

Earache or hearing problems could also arise since the jaw is close to the ear. If you suffer from tension or pressure in the ear or temporary loss of hearing, it may be a fracture near the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention right away. Only through imaging and a thorough examination can the dentist confirm the fracture’s severity and the treatment for it to heal correctly.

Dental Assessment and Diagnosis of Jaw Fractures

When you visit your dentist with concerns about a broken jaw, they will begin the diagnostic process. They will have to refer you for proper completion of the necessary assessment and treatment of your jaw fracture. To start a physical examination, your dentist will check for swelling, bruising, or visible misalignment of your teeth. Your dentist will assess the movement of your jaw and check for deformities or abnormalities. To determine the extent of the injury, they will ask about your symptoms, including pain when moving your jaw, difficulty speaking or chewing, and numbness or tingling in your face or mouth.

Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosing a jaw fracture. Your dentist will suggest dental X-rays or a panoramic view of the jawline. If the fracture is complex or involves the TMJ or nerves, your doctor will refer you for a CT scan. A CT scan gives a detailed, 3D image so your dentist can better assess its seriousness.

If your fracture is bad, your dentist could refer you to specialists. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons often handle surgical treatment if an ear, nose, or throat injury occurs. If you have sustained significant trauma, you may need emergency treatment for stabilization. Your dentist can diagnose and manage simple fractures, but they will require treatment by a medical doctor for the more complex ones.

Treating a Broken Jaw

To treat a more complex or heavily displaced fractured jaw, dentists combine advanced technology with surgical techniques to restore function and appearance. Thanks to virtual surgical planning (VSP), surgeons can now accurately and effectively create detailed 3D models with CT images of your jaw. This technology lets your surgeon redistribute your jaw pieces on the computer beforehand and plan where to place the plates, screws, or wiring. Your doctors will use these simulations to create customized surgical guides and implants for your anatomy, enhancing accuracy, shortening surgical time, and improving post-op recovery.

When your surgical plan is ready, the operation is performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon works with VSP to precisely reposition the fractured pieces of the jaw and keep them stable. This surgical approach ensures access to the fracture site with minimal visible scarring. Often, an intraoral technique is used. This means an incision is made inside your mouth rather than outside. This makes it less likely to have visible scabs. Your doctor could make some small external incisions while managing your injury when it is complex.

The surgical procedure’s first component is the reduction of fractures. Your surgeon will carefully reposition the broken pieces of the bone in the right place. This step is important as misalignment may cause complications like bite irregularities, chronic pain, or later temporomandibular disorders. With the help of the pre-surgery VSP model, your surgeon places the bone segments to enhance the chances of healing and function.

Once the broken jaw is realigned, stabilization will be introduced to maintain the correction and support proper bone healing. Surgeons use biocompatible titanium plates and screws suited for your body to hold the bone pieces. The metals will become part of your jaw over time and usually stay in place permanently unless there are complications. Your titanium hardware (plates, screws, or both) will be designed to fit your jaw exactly.

For fractures that involve teeth, other stabilization methods could be needed. If the fracture affects your bite alignment, your surgeon might use wires to reinforce the repair. For some fractures, you must undergo intermaxillary fixation (IMF or jaw wiring) to immobilize your jaw. This method involves connecting your upper and lower teeth with external wire or arch bars, which are thin metal strips attached to your teeth to keep them wired. Controlling movement is essential to promote healing and stop unwanted movement that may interfere with the fracture site.

Wired jaws significantly impact your everyday life and take a lot of getting used to. Since your jaw will be immobilized, you must follow a strict liquid or soft food diet. Eating often entails using a straw or syringe to get proper nutrition while preventing jaw movements. While it may be challenging to follow this diet, it is vital to avoid complications.

Having your jaw wired shut also makes it difficult to maintain oral hygiene. Limited movement makes brushing and flossing nearly impossible, leading to more infections and dental problems. Your dentist or surgeon will recommend specific methods for keeping your mouth clean. You could rinse frequently with antiseptic mouthwash or water flossers, and special tools may be recommended.

Pain management and aftercare will help you recover after surgery. Your surgeon would prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatories, or antibiotics to treat pain and prevent infections. After jaw surgery, swelling and bruising are common, and your medical team could recommend using cold compresses to limit these. Sleeping with your head elevated can also reduce swelling.

After your surgery, your jaw will usually be wired shut for weeks. The time frame depends on the seriousness of your fracture and the healing process. During this time, you need to honor follow-up appointments with your surgeon. These visits allow your surgical team to check your healing and make adjustments. Once your jaw is healed enough, the wires and hardware will be removed.

When the immobilization phase ends, you will start regaining your jaw’s complete function. Your doctor will recommend therapy and jaw exercises to restore strength and mobility. Initially, you may feel different when chewing and talking. Over time, however, you will get used to this with rehab.

The Recovery Journey After Jaw Fracture Treatment

Recovering after a broken jaw takes a long time. Moreover, the recovery period generally depends on factors like the severity of the fracture, its treatment method, age, health status, and post-treatment care. Simple fractures treated with non-surgical methods like wiring or elastic bands sometimes heal for 4 to 6 weeks. While the bones heal, you should stick with a liquid diet or soft food and restrict jaw movement.

Surgery-warranting complex fractures takes more time to heal. If plates, screws, or wires are used to keep your jaw stable, it may need to be wired shut for 6 to 8 weeks. It can take 6 to 12 weeks, or longer, for the bone to heal completely and your grip to return to normal.

The recovery process occurs in phases. At first, you will be focused on managing the pain and swelling with diet changes. In the coming weeks, a surgical method known as bony union occurs. Your doctor may notice signs of healing on the X-ray, though the bone remains vulnerable. In the months ahead, your jaw keeps remodeling until it achieves full strength and free functionality.

Several factors influence healing time, including the following:

• Younger patients tend to heal faster due to better bone regeneration
• Conditions like diabetes or osteoporosis can delay healing
• Smoking is a significant risk factor that impairs bone healing. Thus, stopping or decreasing will help in your research.
• Proper post-operative care, whether dental or other, is vital for a smooth recovery after surgery. Moreover, it is essential to follow the dentist’s or surgeon’s instructions. 

After the bone heals, regaining full jaw function can take additional time. Prolonged immobilization weakens the jaw muscles, requiring weeks or months of physical therapy or jaw exercises to restore strength and mobility. Some individuals may experience lingering effects such as jaw stiffness, minor misalignment, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, which may require ongoing monitoring or treatment.

Find an Emergency Dentist Near Me

A fractured jaw affects much more than your look. It can affect your speech, eating habits, and even breathing capabilities. Timely and precise treatment is vital for full recovery. You deserve the best in cutting-edge diagnostic technology, advanced surgical techniques, and compassionate care that heals and restores quality of life.

At Calabasas Smiles Advanced Dentistry, we handle jaw fracture injuries. With the help of our skilled team, we will guide you from the preliminary assessment to the rehabilitation process designed after treatment. Our help is designed for optimum recovery from your jaw fracture.