How Are Jaw Fractures Treated?
By Ramin Shabtaie | Published on November 1, 2010 | 0 Comments
A broken foot could mean that getting around with crutches will be more difficult than anticipated, and a broken arm could mean that you’ll have to start using your less dominant hand. A broken or fractured jaw, on the other hand, can leave you unable to speak or open your mouth until it is properly healed. As inconvenient or unimaginable as it seems, it turns out that a fractured jaw is the tenth most commonly fractured bone in the body, and is second only to a broken nose as the most common facial injury.
According to Los Angeles oral surgeon Ramin Shabtaie, most of the injured jaws he sees are caused by trauma inflicted by another person, mainly from fights or motor vehicle accidents. If you are fairly certain that you have a severely injured or fractured jaw, his recommendation is to get to your oral surgeon or local emergency room as soon as possible for treatment. Many times, he says, most of his referrals for jaw fractures come from hospitals after an ER physician is able to evaluate the injury and contact the appropriate specialist. Then, once the oral surgeon is contacted, he can get to the hospital and begin treating the patient accordingly.
Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, Dr. Shabtaie explains that you can treat a jaw either inside the mouth or outside. The most common and preferred method, however, is to immobilize and reduce the pressure on the two segments of the jaw bone that have been fractured, much like a orthopedic surgeon would do for a broken arm. Generally, he continues, this is done by placing arch bars around the necessary teeth and wiring the mouth shut to ensure immobilization. Basically, your mouth will be wired shut for the following two to three weeks to ensure that the bone heals properly. The other alternative, Dr. Shabtaie says, is to surgically place screws and microplates on the desired sections of the jaw bone to immobilize only certain segments of the bone. This minimizes the amount of time that the jaw will need to be closed to just a week or two.
While a jaw fracture inflicted by blunt force or trauma may be easily detected, Dr. Shabtaie explains that there are also times where the fracture goes undetected. If you are not experiencing any excruciatingly painful symptoms, he says, then you may be tipped off by pain when you chew or move your jaw around. You may also notice that your bite is off or that your teeth do not align as they normally would. Unfortunately, says Dr. Shabtaie, if a jaw fracture goes undetected for some time and has partially started to heal before you make an appointment with an oral surgeon, it may need to be re-fractured so that it can be repositioned properly. This is why contacting your dentist or oral surgeon as soon as you notice a problem is the best way to ensure a speedy and effective recovery.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.