Dental Treatment for Jaw Locking

Although it’s not a common dental problem, jaw locking can be frightening for those who have it. It starts as tenderness of the jawbone area that aggravates jaw movements. You can schedule an appointment with a bulk billing dentist for treatment of this dental problem.

In the acute stages, this disorder prevents the mouth from opening fully which results in improper mouth function. Mandibular related illnesses are the main cause of this disorder. Inflammation from over mastication and Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can cause the soft tissues in the mouth to be inflamed. Oral diseases such as fevers and tetanus infection that have symptoms in the mouth can also cause lockjaw. The jaw muscles become exhausted and worn out making it impossible to open your mouth.

Jaw locking is frequently accompanied by popping sensation, toothache, neck pain, and gum pain. The radiation of pain in these areas occur due to spasms muscles forming the jaws. The pain seldom arises as a result of the following problems:

• Jaw trauma
• Joint abnormalities
• Popping or clicking jaw
• Postural abnormality
• Muscle strain
• Grinding teeth especially at night
• Overuse jaw injury

With simple symptom management and physical therapy, the condition can improve. Dental treatment for jaw locking first starts with identifying the cause. In most cases, it can be treated with non-invasive medical intervention. Stretching exercises with the help of a physical therapist can ease the pain. A warm washcloth or an ice pack can be used to relax the muscles if the cause is from muscle strains. Surgery has long been the only treatment which is assumed to get the dislocated disk back in place. It involves replacing the entire joint with an artificial one. Over the counter painkillers and antidepressants for muscle relaxants may be sufficient to treat the pain. If the joint is inflamed, a fluid known as corticosteroids is injected into the joint. Debris in the joint that interferes with the functioning of the jaws are flushed out.