You’ll need a physical exam and an X-ray right away to diagnose the problem. [2] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020. You might also notice indentations under one or both ears. You might be suffering from a fracture instead of a dislocation, or it’s possible to experience both, but you need rapid medical attention in any case.
Don’t try to push your mouth closed with your hands. Just put them under your chin and try to support your jaw in place. A helper can also wrap an elastic bandage under your chin and over your head several times. However, don’t put too much upward pressure on your jaw, and make sure you can quickly remove the bandage if the person needs to vomit due to the pain. You may drool, but you won’t be able to swallow or drink anything.
Stand behind the person with the dislocated jaw and make sure they keep their head straight and still. Put on gloves to reduce the chance of infection, and wrap gauze or fabric around your thumbs to protect them from unintentional biting due to pain. Make sure you can feel the joint so you can put the jaw back in place. [4] X Research source Place your thumbs in the person’s mouth, on their back molars, and wrap your hands around the sides of their chin. [5] X Research source Press down gently with your arms while tilting the front of the chin slightly upward with your fingers. Then push the jaw back until you feel the ball pop back into the socket. Without proper anesthesia and sedation, this maneuver could be extremely painful for the person. It must be your last resort. Call for help whenever possible. Don’t try to realign a jaw if there has been a severe accident since there also could be fractures.
You’ll be in pain and have trouble speaking, so it’s best to have someone accompany you to the medical facility.
If you have allergies or other medical reasons why you can’t take certain muscle relaxants or other medications, make sure you or someone accompanying you informs the staff right away.
You’ll be sedated, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure. This procedure is effective nearly 90% of the time. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
There is also a so-called “wrist pivot” method that has a very high success rate (97%) but takes a lot of training to master. Some practitioners may be comfortable with a single method in all cases, while others may choose a method based on the particulars of the case. Only in rare cases is surgery needed to repair a dislocated jaw.
While having your jaw wired shut is a major inconvenience, it may prevent you from having another painful jaw dislocation in the near future.
Do not chew gum while you’re recovering. [14] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020. Follow your instructions carefully and ask questions if you are unsure about anything. You don’t want to risk another dislocation right away!
When you feel a yawn or a sneeze coming on, cup your hands under your chin to keep your mouth from opening wide. [17] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020. Your doctor may recommend using bandages to secure your jaw so you can’t open your mouth too widely. [18] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.
You might be given multiple injections of medications that will help strengthen and tighten your jaw ligaments. The surgical procedure known as eminectomy is the best course of action in some cases. It involves removing the section of bone that the “ball” of your jaw joint gets caught in front of during a dislocation. You may be advised to have your jaw wired or banded shut for several weeks so your ligaments can heal and tighten as a last resort
