Broken OR Dislocated Jaw (Dislocated Jaw, Fractured Jaw)

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Category : Health Centers > Injuries and Safety

Broken OR Dislocated Jaw

Alternate Names : Dislocated Jaw, Fractured Jaw

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring

A broken or dislocated jaw is an injury in which the jaw is cracked, broken, or moved out of position.

What are the causes and risks of the injury?

A dislocated jaw can occur when the mandible, the lower bone of the jaw, is displaced from the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. The TMJ is the joint between the jaw and the skull. When the jaw is broken, it usually breaks in 2 areas: at the site of injury and on the opposite side of the jaw. Another bone of the jaw is the maxilla, which contains the upper teeth. When this bone is broken, there are usually other fractures in the face.

The most common causes of a broken or dislocated jaw are sports injuries, industrial accidents, and motor vehicle accidents. A person can also get a dislocated or broken jaw by being punched in the face.

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		Broken OR Dislocated Jaw: Symptoms & Signs

Author: James Broomfield, MD
Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed: 07/09/01

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