Jaw Dislocation Treatment

The lower jaw has articular processes on both sides that fit into the articular cavities. These cavities, in turn, are located in the human skull. A lower jaw dislocation occurs when the articular processes “fall out” of the articular cavities. It should be noted that the upper jaw is statically attached to the skull, so an upper jaw dislocation is impossible.

There are a number of circumstances in which a person can get a jaw dislocation, but in most cases it involves mechanical impact:

• accidents accompanied by a strong blow;
• injuries (including sports injuries);
• blows to the jaw area;
• falls;
• birth injuries;
• muscle contractions (for example, during an epileptic seizure);
• joint pathology (for example, arthritis and dysplasia of the temporomandibular joint).

Only a specialist can diagnose and confirm a jaw dislocation, but a person can recognize the need for medical help based on a number of obvious symptoms:

• inability to close the mouth;
• pain;
• jaw displacement and facial distortion (when it is visually apparent that the lower jaw is not in its proper position);
• swelling and bruising;
• difficulty chewing, swallowing, and speaking (including difficulty swallowing saliva);
• clicking (when attempting to move the jaw, clicking or other atypical sounds occur).

The signs of a jaw dislocation are very similar to fracture symptoms. Therefore, in addition to a clinical examination, the doctor may order an X-ray for jaw dislocation.

Depending on the nature of the injury and the direction of jaw displacement, several types of lower jaw dislocations can be distinguished.

Types of dislocations by displacement direction

Lower jaw dislocations can also be divided into unilateral (when the articular process falls out of one joint) and bilateral (when both articular processes fall out). As a rule, treating a unilateral jaw dislocation is somewhat simpler than a bilateral one. This is because when only one articular process falls out, it is easier for the doctor to determine the injury profile.

Types of dislocations by severity

The duration of jaw dislocation treatment depends on the severity and can vary. Mild dislocations involve conservative treatment, and full patient recovery takes several weeks. Treatment of moderate severity lower jaw dislocations may require anesthesia, and patient recovery takes from several weeks to several months. Severe and complex dislocations involve surgical intervention, and full recovery takes from several months to a year.

Treatment of lower jaw dislocation always begins with reduction. First of all, for a jaw dislocation, the doctor uses so-called conservative or closed reduction methods.

In a number of cases, the application of conservative reduction methods proves to be insufficient, ineffective, or impossible, and then surgery becomes necessary.

Non-conservative methods of treating lower jaw dislocation can be applied both on their own and in combination with conservative ones.

Regardless of whether a conservative or non-conservative method of jaw dislocation treatment is used, the main specialist who can and should help the patient remains the maxillofacial surgeon. It is precisely within the competence of these specialists to perform reduction and treatment of all types of lower jaw dislocation: whether it is treatment of partial lower jaw dislocations (relatively uncomplicated) or, say, treatment of complex habitual dislocations.

Maxillofacial surgeons, unlike dental surgeons, are not available in every clinic, even in Kyiv. One of the leading specializations of “Dr. Osadchiy’s Dental Clinic” is specifically maxillofacial surgery, and the chief physician Igor Oleksandrovych has more than 17 years of experience specifically in maxillofacial surgery.

“To relieve the pain syndrome, to provide adequate anesthesia, to achieve muscle relaxation (relax the muscles) — a doctor’s knowledge is required. The jaw reduction techniques themselves are not complicated, you just need to know how to use them. Jaw reduction takes less than a second, and the pain during reduction is minor. Sometimes the anesthesia injection, which is only needed in rare cases, turns out to be more painful,” — shares his experience Igor Oleksandrovych Osadchiy.

Quite often in medicine, the term “habitual dislocation” is used. This refers to patients who regularly visit the doctor with the problem of lower jaw dislocation. There can be several reasons for the periodic occurrence of the problem: anatomical features, muscle weakness, joint deformity, etc.

In cases of habitual jaw dislocation, thorough treatment is required even if the articular processes have returned to their normal position on their own (spontaneous recovery). The fact that dislocations recur may be a sign of a serious pathology of the temporomandibular joint, and here diagnostics, proper orthodontic, and sometimes surgical treatment are important.

Habitual and chronic jaw dislocation should not be confused. Despite the apparent similarity in the recurrence of dislocation episodes, there is also a significant difference: a chronic dislocation implies the duration of a single episode.

Treatment of habitual jaw dislocation involves a special approach, as it is necessary to eliminate not only the dislocation itself but also the cause of recurring episodes.

1. Diagnostics and Identification of Causes

Since there can be several causes of dislocations, understanding the clinical picture requires analyzing the patient’s anatomical features, establishing and ruling out functional disorders, muscle problems, joint diseases, and if necessary, conducting an X-ray examination.

2. Reduction

If spontaneous recovery does not occur, the doctor helps return the articular processes to the correct position.

3. Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Involves strengthening the muscles around the joint and correcting functional disorders.

4. Orthodontic Treatment

Performed in cases where the cause of dislocations is a bite anomaly or dentofacial apparatus disorder.

5. Surgical Intervention

In the presence of a structural anomaly, surgical intervention may be required. There are operations aimed at restoring the condylar head and articular cavity. However, these operations without good dental treatment and prosthetics do not have great effectiveness.

Treatment of habitual dislocations is a fairly complex task, and its most important component is adequate and proper prosthetics, since it is the teeth that fix the position of the joint in the condylar head.

The price for jaw reduction services in Kyiv starts from one thousand hryvnias. However, it may vary depending on the complexity of the case, how the jaw dislocation will be treated, and what techniques and additional methods the specialists will use.

It can definitely be said that habitual jaw dislocations require systematic treatment involving various specialists, so the price will be significantly higher. Complex cases requiring surgical intervention will also require additional expenses from the patient.

The too wide range of clinical picture variations does not allow us to indicate even a price range for jaw dislocation treatment services. However, it is important to remember that you should never try to reduce the jaw on your own. If you or someone close to you has dislocated their jaw, do not endure the pain and wait — call the clinic.