When your jaw muscles spasm and your jaw seems to lock up, pain isn’t the only problem, as complications like even choking may occur. If you’ve been suffering from jaw lock, then you’ll find relief with us here at Beyond Dental. Read on to learn more about us or just reach out to us today to meet with a jaw lock treatment specialist in Fort Worth, TX!
What causes your jaw to lock up?
There is no one cause for all cases of jaw lock, so if you’ve been experiencing it, it may be due to a medication you’re taking, cancer treatment, or tetanus (also known as lockjaw). It’s also possible that hypocalcemia (due to thyroid surgery) could be causing your law lock. Some infections can cause jaw lock too. The spasms you may be experiencing could be due to injury to a muscle, nerve, bone, tendon, or ligament.
It’s quite possible that your jaw lock is caused by a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. This kind of disorder can be chronic, so it really should be addressed by a proper professional.
Is jaw locking serious?
It may be, yes, because the cause and/or the complications may be serious. The symptoms might not seem especially serious, and generally include:
- Jaw pain
- An inability to open the mouth widely
- Trouble swallowing
- Speech that’s difficult for others to understand
- Dry mouth
- A sore and inflamed mouth
The problems are that jaw locking could be caused by a serious condition like tetanus, which is a bacterial infection that affects the nerves in the infected area, and jaw locking can cause serious complications if it’s left untreated.
What happens if TMJ is left untreated?
If your case of jaw lock is caused by a TMJ disorder, it can cause complications too if it’s left untreated. Many different cases of jaw lock can lead to complications like:
- Tooth decay and/or ulcers in the mouth
- Bruxism which is excessive teeth grinding and can cause tooth enamel wear and tooth cracking
- Muscle contracture which is more difficult to treat than muscle spasms
With cases of jaw lock caused by infections, nerves or muscles can become permanently damaged. And because it can be very difficult for a person to self diagnose the cause of their jaw lock, it’s practically necessary to receive professional care.
What are the treatments for jaw lock?
The first step toward treatment for jaw lock is to see a dentist/oral surgeon about it. At Beyond Dental, Dr. Cory Nguyen DDS, FAAID, FICOI, DABOI/ID is the professional you’ll be seeing, and he’s a board-certified, AAID-credentialed dentist and jaw lock treatment specialist. He has been awarded Top Dentist by Consumer Research Council of America, and voted Best Dentist by D Magazine, and he has over 15 years of comprehensive experience helping patients like you. The doctor can provide treatments like:
- At-home exercises
- Physical therapy
- Muscle relaxants
- Anti-inflammatory steroids
- TMJ orthotics
- And other treatments