Broken jaws are often the result of an accident or injury. These fractures mostly affect your lower jaw or mandible, although you may have other facial fractures. A dislocated jaw pops out of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Some broken or dislocated jaws heal with minor treatment. Severe jaw injuries may require wiring your jaw shut for a few weeks.

Jawbone

Your jawbone keeps your teeth in place and helps you speak, chew and swallow. It consists of an upper jawbone (maxilla) and a lower jawbone (mandible).

You can move the lower jawbone forward, backward and sideways, but the upper jawbone doesn’t move. The jawbone is part of the skeletal system.

Broken or Dislocated Jaw

Like other bones in the body, the jawbone can experience a fracture (broken bone). You can also dislocate the jawbone. A dislocation means the lower jawbone moves out of one of the two temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect the mandible to the skull.

Both conditions can cause pain and make it difficult or impossible to talk or eat. A dislocated or broken jaw can also affect breathing. These medical emergencies require prompt evaluation and treatment.

A fracture or dislocation most often affects the lower jawbone. Fractures can occur in the:

Part that supports your teeth (body).

Angle where your jaw curves..

Knob-shaped joint at the top of the jawbone (condyle).

Point where the two sides of the lower jawbone join (symphysis).

An upper jawbone fracture often happens along with other facial fractures like the cheekbone (zygomaticomaxillary or ZMC fracture) or eye socket (orbital fracture). Broken jaws are second to broken noses as the most common type of facial fracture.

Causes a Broken Jaw

Most broken jaws are the result of:

Accidents, including vehicle accidents, workplace accidents and falls.

Assaults and trauma.

Sports injuries or other injuries.

Causes a Dislocated Jaw

People with TMJ disorders and conditions that cause loose tissues and joints (like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) may be more likely to dislocate the jaw.

It’s also possible to dislocate a jaw while:

Getting a dental procedure.

pening the mouth too wide.

Vomiting.

Yawning.

Expect During Recovery

While recovering from a dislocated or broken jaw, you may:

Apply ice packs to the jaw area to reduce swelling.

Eat soft foods or drink a liquid diet through a straw.

Place a fist or hand under your chin to keep your mouth shut when you feel the urge to yawn or sneeze.

Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease pain and swelling, as well as antibiotics to prevent infections.

Use a prescription dental mouth rinse if you’re unable to brush your teeth.

Wear a stabilizing bandage (called a Barton bandage) for several weeks to limit jaw movement. The bandage wraps under your chin and over the top of your head.

When healing is complete, your healthcare provider may recommend exercises to strengthen the jaw.