Jaw Locking Explained: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments

When To Seek Medical Care

If you begin experiencing jaw locking on a regular basis and it’s starting to interfere with your daily activities, it’s vital to seek medical attention. If you’re experiencing other painful symptoms when your jaw locks, you should consult a doctor immediately. A doctor will diagnose the root cause of your jaw locking and recommend a course of treatment to alleviate the discomfort and restore the health of your jaw.

The diagnosis process usually starts with a physical exam and a discussion about your personal and family medical history as well as your current symptoms. Imaging tests, such as MRIs or X-rays, will be ordered to get a better look at the structures of your jaw joint. Once the underlying cause of the jaw locking is determined, the doctor will recommend treatment options.

What Happens If It Is Left Untreated

If jaw locking is left untreated, it can lead to several serious complications. The strain placed on the jaw joint due to prolonged locking can cause damage and weakening of the joints, leading to long-term pain and dysfunction. It can also increase your risk of developing other medical conditions such as headaches, earaches, and even TMJ disorder. In addition, untreated jaw locking can lead to difficulty eating, talking, and sleeping, due to pain and discomfort. Even if your jaw locking isn’t causing significant pain or discomfort, you should still have it checked out

Conventional Treatment For Jaw Locking

Depending on the diagnosis, a traditional doctor will typically recommend one or more of the following more conventional treatments:

Medications

Most traditional doctors will prescribe medications to reduce inflammation and pain. These can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or opioids. However, be wary about any medications you take to help with your pain.

Although they can help provide short-term relief, there are several risks to be aware of, such as potential side effects, allergic reactions, and habit-forming risks. In addition, medications for pain and inflammation will only alleviate the symptoms – they won’t solve your jaw-locking problem.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is another possible treatment for jaw locking. Physical therapists identify and treat muscle and joint problems, such as those associated with jaw locking. They can provide exercises to help loosen tight muscles and improve your jaw’s range of motion.

The goal of physical therapy is to reduce pain, restore function, and prevent future episodes of jaw locking. Additionally, by strengthening the surrounding jaw joint, physical therapy may also help reduce the risk of future injuries or dysfunction.

Dental Treatments

In some cases, dental treatments may be necessary to treat jaw locking. This could include braces to help realign the teeth and reduce strain on the joint, or even surgery to repair damaged structures in the jaw. If you have a misaligned bite or other dental problems contributing to your jaw locking, your dentist will work with you and your doctor to find a solution.

Invasive Treatments

Invasive treatments may be recommended if your jaw-locking symptoms are serious and other treatments have not been successful. However, these more invasive treatments should only be used as a last resort when all other treatment options have failed. They include:

• Injections: Injections of corticosteroids or local anesthetics can help reduce inflammation and pain. They can, however, cause side effects such as allergic reactions, bruising, and other complications.
• Arthrocentesis and arthroscopy: These procedures involve using a tiny camera and surgical tools to assess, clean, and repair damaged tissues in the joint. They can be used to treat tissue damage due to inflammation or injury.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary if other treatments have failed. This could include removing damaged cartilage, repairing ligaments, or reconstructing the jaw joint.