jaw pain

[bill1313]

About a month ago i had a wisdom tooth taken out. It was healing ok but 5 days ago while biting a sandwich my jaw made a loud popping sound and since then i am not able to open my mouth more than an inch. i also have alot of swelling. What coul this be?

[scottma]

Your descriptions suggest disc displacement without reduction or anchored disc phenomenon, which probably has nothing to do with wisdom tooth extraction. Seeing a tmj specialist to manually reduce the disc asap is advised.

[Cycl3Chick]

in the meantime while you wait for your appointment, take a rag and soak it in hot water and wrap it around your jaw all the way up towards your ears.  don't force your mouth open, but sort of massage the area with the hot rag until you feel it loosen up a bit.  keep doing this for at least 10 or so minutes at a time.  it sounds like your tmj and could have something to do with getting the teeth extracted or you could be grinding your teeth.  your tmj has a little pad that floats around in it and moves when you open your mouth, if it gets stuck, then your mouth gets stuck closed or open.

[jojo983]

It sounds like maybe your jaw is a little out of alignment ,you should go back to the dentist and have him check that and check for "dry socket "try to keep food away from the extraction site.