It happens like that - yawned, broadly, with pleasure, closed his mouth - and then something broke. The mouth does not open, the saliva flows, the pain in the joint region and the sense of panic. No wonder - just a dislocation of the jaw, requiring treatment. Yes, strangely enough, it happens, although it seems that the mandibular bones are so firmly attached to the skull by soft tissues - this is not a hand. In fact, such a shift is not so rare, especially in the female sex.
Causes of dislocation of the jaw
The temporomandibular joint connects the base of the skull with the lower jaw. This is a unique joint, because between its head and the articular cavity is located intraarticular cartilage. Thanks to this cartilage, paired joints simultaneously perform movements in three directions:
- up-down (opening closing the mouth);
- back and forth;
- to the sides (during the performance of the masticatory function).
Accordingly, the dislocation of the lower jaw can be either front or back. Women in terms of anatomical structure were less fortunate - the ligament joints of their body are weaker than those of men, and women have less depth of the joint fossa. Therefore, the joint is easier to slip out of it in the presence of causal factors, which include:
- wide opening of the mouth when yawning, vomiting, laughing, eating, dental, screaming;
- trauma (for example, a punch in the face, falling on the chin);
- diseases of other organs and systems ( rheumatism , gout, osteomyelitis, polyarthritis , etc.).
Symptoms of dislocation of the lower jaw
Diagnosis of the disease is not complicated. The signs of dislocation include:
- difficult to close your mouth;
- displacement of the mandible in any direction;
- problems with diction and articulation;
- pain in the joint region;
- strong salivation;
- discomfort when swallowing;
- a click in the joints.
How to correct the dislocation of the jaw?
The treatment of the dislocation of the temporomandibular joint is aimed primarily at restoring the anatomical structure. This procedure should be carried out by a doctor with the necessary experience, because there is a risk of fracture of the articular process with an incorrect correction. In case of a long-standing dislocation, the correction is carried out under anesthesia.
Treatment of a dislocation of the jaw when yawning also involves the application of a fixative bandage. This is necessary for the lower jaw to remain stationary until completely restored. For the period of using the dressing, there is a ban on the use of solid food.