A broken jaw is a break in the jaw bone. A dislocated jaw means the lower part of the jaw has moved out of its normal position at one or both joints where the jaw bone connects to the skull (temporomandibular joints).

Dislocated jaw; Fractured jaw; Broken jaw; TMJ dislocation

A broken or dislocated jaw usually heals completely after treatment. However, the jaw may become dislocated again in the future.

Complications may include:

• Airway blockage
• Bleeding
• Breathing blood or food into the lungs
• Difficulty eating (temporary)
• Difficulty talking (temporary)
• Infection of the jaw or face
• Jaw joint (TMJ) pain and other problems
• Problems aligning the teeth

The most common cause of a broken or dislocated jaw is injury to the face. This may be due to:

• Assault
• Industrial accident
• Motor vehicle accident
• Recreational or sports injury

Images

Mandibular fracture

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Jaw Symptoms

Review Date: 06/04/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)