Irving, TX
A 34-year-old female asked:
My jaw has locked up to where i cannot open my mouth all the way. i can open and close it, just not open all the way. it is also painful. is this tmj?
5 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ross Levineanswered
12 years experience
Possibly: Tmj is the name of the joint, but it does sound like you have TMJ disorder. A dentist should be able to help. Call ahead to see if he or she treats TMJ pain before scheduling.
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5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Majid Jamalianswered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 28 years experience
TMJ : Yes. This is called closed lock, where your TMJ disc is displaced in front of your joint. Arthrocentesis might be helpful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Kevin Hanleyanswered
Orthodontics 45 years experience
Yes: What has most likely happened is that the disc that rides on the top of your lower jaw in the joint space has become displaced anteriorly and is blocking the normal forward movement of your jaw joint. This disc needs to be recaptured so that it rides along on top of the condyle in a normal fashion. A splint may be able to recapture your disc so that your jaw doesn't lock. See your dentist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. David Mayanswered
Dentistry 32 years experience
Yes: It is called tmd temporomandibular joint disorder. You jprobably have a displaced disc that is making it so the muscles, bone, ligaments and cartilage to not work together correctly.
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5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Louis Galliaanswered
Surgery - Oral & Maxillofacial 47 years experience
Yes: Yes, likely a "closed lock". Anterior dispaced disc without reduction. See a TMJ expert to help evaluate and treat your problem. A TMJ expert can be general dentist, an oral surgeon, prosthodontist, orofacial pain specialist. Ask your physician, dentist or dental society for a recommendation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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