Locked Jaw Treatment

The temporomandibular joint acts as the link between your jawbone and the skull and is present on each side of your jaw. A temporary disorder in this joint can cause pain in your jaw as well an in the muscles that control jaw movement. This pain can be caused by a combination of factors such as an injury in the jaw, arthritis, and genetics. Most of the times, this condition is temporary but you should consider going to your Epping dentist if the pain becomes persistent or if opening or closing the jaw becomes difficult.  You will be undergoing a locked jaw treatment to get your jaw back to its normal state.

There are various locked jaw treatment options that are determined by the extent of the situation and they include;

Home treatment options

1. Massaging the joint gently but at moderate pressure to ease the pain in your jaw muscles.

2. Keeping the teeth apart so as to relieve pressure o the jaw. In addition, it is important to avoid clenching and grinding teeth.

Use of medications

After diagnosis, your dentist will prescribe doses such as NSAIDs for pain relief and reduction of possible swelling. To help relax your jaw muscle, your doctor will also prescribe a muscle relaxer that will serve to relax your jaw muscle when you grind or clench your teeth. Other prescriptions include anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants.

Use of a splint or a night guard locked jaw treatment

Your dentist will issue you with splints that are to be fitted in the upper and lower jaws to prevent your teeth from clenching and also put your teeth in a correct bitting position. Besides that, your dentist will give you a night guard which is to be worn as you sleep.

Dental work

To further administer locked jaw treatment, your dentist can replace your missing teeth or use braces, bridges, and crowns to balance your bitting surfaces and hence correct the problem.

Furthermore, your dentist can use the Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to provide pain relief and relax your jaw joint and muscles.

Irrespective of the extent of your locked jaw, it is important to seek medical assistance so that your dentist can decide on the right treatment for you. Home treatment should only serve as the initial treatment before you see a dentist.

Dental

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