Dental Problems in the Jaw

Dental problems in your jaw can be the result of a number of things: injury, health and everyday activities. Three dental problems you can experience in the jaw are TMJ, jaw dislocation and a misaligned bite. Injury can cause all three, but other causes exist as well. A dentist is able to provide help with all three, eliminating the pain and inability to eat that they can cause.

TMJ

• Jaw muscles and jaw joints can produce pain due to a condition known as TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder). A dentist can treat TMJ, which can produce symptoms that mimic migraines and can cause shoulder and facial pain. Treatment options for TMJ include mouth guards, bite therapy and jaw exercises, per the Doc Shop. (Sometimes surgery is required. If you have TMJ, you may be unable to chew food without pain, which can cause loss of weight and strength. Potential causes of this condition can include automobile and other types of accidents, lengthy dental visits and other unknown causes, according to the Atlanta Dental Group PC.

Jaw Dislocation

• You can dislocate your jaw by simply yawning, vomiting or by maintaining a too-wide position while getting dental work done during a lengthy dental visit. Opening your mouth too widely or holding that position for too long for any reason can result in this condition and produce substantial pain.

  Previous dislocations tend to make it more likely you will have another one. If you ever suffered the conditions of TMJ in the past, or still do, you are more likely to experience jaw dislocation as well. During the jaw dislocation, you are unable to close your mouth, which means you cannot eat either. Your jaw can even be twisted more to one side, versus the other. Your dentist can address your jaw dislocation in his office, manually moving your jaw back into its correct position.

Misaligned Bites

• Dental problems in the jaw can also arise due to the facial structure at birth. As you age, your jaw can become more misaligned, creating bite problems. Dentists address such bite imbalances between the lower and upper teeth through corrective jaw surgery. Unaddressed misaligned bites can cause pain and inconvenience when a person attempts to chew her food or gum. It can cause an imbalanced look to the face as well. Misaligned bites can be the result of heredity, accident or disease. Dental surgery to address this condition is not without potential side effects, which can include face numbness or stiffness immediately following surgery, and for months after, as well as bone shifting at a later time.