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Dental Health (Expert Forum)
Locked jaw after wisdom tooth extraction
Answered by
Jerome Bogin, D.D.S. - Dental
Questions in the Dental Health forum are answered by Dr. Jerome Tsang and Dr. Jerome Bogin. Topics covered include bridges, cavities, crowns, and x-rays.
Locked jaw after wisdom tooth extraction
by adawd, Nov 15, 2006 12:00AM
I have had my wisdom tooth extracted from the lower jaw without surgery a week ago, the tooth was partially erubted. the first day the bleeding didn't stop for about 12 hours after the procedure, and after two days I had severe pain and my jaw next to the extracted tooth got so stiff and my mouth would't open easily.
I took ibuprofen for the pain and it worked(400mg for 3times aday), but my jaw is still locked and I can hardly open it to eat. my doctor says that I had "dry socket" it will go away in 2 weeks or so. is it common to have locked jaw as a symptom of dry socket?
should I be worried? if not is there anything I can do to loosen the jaw muscle (like taking muscle relaxants)?
I took ibuprofen for the pain and it worked(400mg for 3times aday), but my jaw is still locked and I can hardly open it to eat. my doctor says that I had "dry socket" it will go away in 2 weeks or so. is it common to have locked jaw as a symptom of dry socket?
should I be worried? if not is there anything I can do to loosen the jaw muscle (like taking muscle relaxants)?
Doctor's Answer
by Jerome Bogin, D.D.S. , Nov 15, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 15, 2006 12:00AM
I am not sure the trismus(difficulty in opening your jaw) is related to the dry socket. two weeks seems like a long time for the dry socket to last. I am more inclined to think that the trismus is related to the injection. I suggest you try to force open your mouth a little at a time each day. You might try using tongue blades between your teeth and increasing the number each day. If this does not work then you might have to go to an oral surgeon and under sedation have your jaw opened to break any adhesions that are present.
Member Comments (2)
by Kalio1, Nov 22, 2006 12:00AM
To: adawd
I had that happen to me, couldnt even open my mouth to brush my teeth. Go back to the dentist! I disagree with the doc, do not try to force it that can make it worse! I thought mine was a seized up muscle or something too but it was not that at all. Please, dont force it until you have it checked out. Mine was locked because removing the tooth the dentist somehow damaged the disc in my jaw. I had to have two additional surgeries done by another specialist to repair it and reposition the jaw disc.He said sometimes they can right themselves on their own too. I still have a hard time keeping my jaw open at the dentist or opening my mouth wide. Unfortunately, this sometimes can happen when having teeth extracted. It isn't that your dentist did something wrong necessarily either, it is just one of those unfortunate possible outcomes. I hope this is not what has happened to you, but don't force it, get it checked out and possibly see a specialist for a second opinion.
