my jaw clicks really loud when i chew. does this indicate lockjaw?

Question

My jaw keeps clicking when I try to open my mouth. It feels off- is this trismus (lockjaw)?

Answer 1

Movable disc: There is a disc in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that separates the lower jaw from the socket in the skull. If the disc or its ligaments are injured or stretched, the disc can 'pop' out of position during opening or closing. This makes a 'clicking' sound when it occurs. This is a temporomandibular joint disorder (tmj). A dentist can evaluate this problem and possibly correct it.

Answer 2

TMJ Disorder likely: It sounds like you are experiencing temporomadibular joint disorder. This disorder can come and go throughout a lifetime or become constant. Signs of tmd are pain in the jaw, ear aches, headaches, popping and clicking, and can cause your jaw to lock. This condition is usually brought on by stress, however can develop overtime if your dental bite is not properly aligned. I suggest a prosthodontist.

Answer 3

Tmj: Sounds like you may have some displacement of the soft tissue internal jaw joint structures. You should consult with your dentist.

Answer 4

Displaced TMJ Disc: Displaced TMJ disk. See a TMJ expert for advice. Any dentist can be a TMJ expert with the proper training and experience. Most commonly, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and orofacial pain specialists. Ask your MD, your dentist and your dental society for referrals.

Answer 5

?tetanus ?TMJ: Do you really mean lock jaw as in tetanus? Or do you mean your jaw locks as in TMJ (jaw problems)? It is rare to get tetanus twice unless one is not keeping up with the tetanus shots every ten years and is in an occupation/hobby which exposes one to tetanus. On the other hand, if one has TMJ problems, the jaw can lock up on multiple occasions. In this case, see a TMJ physical therapist or doctor.

Answer 6

Yes: Tetanus is produced by toxins secreted by clostridium tetani. The amount of toxin necessary to produce clinical disease is far less than the amount necessary to induce immunity, so any patient recovering from tetanus should receive tetanus immunization before discharge, or they may well reacquire this disease. "immune" patients may get it if the toxin produced is quite high and the immunity low.

Answer 7

Lock jaw: Yes you can.

Answer 8

Yes: Yes, since the locking jaw (either jaw dislocation or disk dysfunction) is a chronic problem. Complex problem. see a TMJ expert for guidance. Any dentist can be a TMJ expert with the proper training and experience. Most commonly, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and orofacial pain specialists. Ask your MD, your dentist and your dental society for referrals.

Answer 9

See below: I am assuming you are referring to true lockjaw caused by tetanus. The answer is that anything can be infected with the tetanus bacilli and if you inject something contaminated with the tetanus bacillus, then yes, you can develop lockjaw.

Answer 10

TMJ?: Not true lockjaw, but some street drugs cause clenching/grinding of jaw, which can cause TMJ problem.See dentist or TMJ expert to evalluate. Any dentist can be a TMJ expert with the proper training and experience. Most commonly, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and orofacial pain specialists. Ask your MD, your dentist and your dental society for referrals.

Answer 11

Several causes: Lock jaw or the inability to open or close the lower jaw can be related to a number of causes. An infection, spasm of the muscles that control the opening and closing of the lower jaw, a broken jaw that did not heal correctly, and problems associated with the meniscus or disc in the TMJ are some possible causes.

Answer 12

TMJ expert: You are likely referring to locking of the jaw related to jaw joint (TMJ) disk displacement and not tetanus related "lockjaw". The locking jaw means there is a serious TMJ problem. See a TMJ expert. Any dentist can be a TMJ expert with the proper training and experience. Commonly, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and orofacial pain specialists. Ask MD, dentist and your dental society for referrals

Answer 13

Several causes: Lock jaw or the inability to open or close the lower jaw can be related to a number of causes. An infection, spasm of the muscles that control the opening and closing of the lower jaw, a broken jaw that did not heal correctly, and problems associated with the meniscus or disc in the TMJ are some possible causes.

Answer 14

Disc dislocation: A limitation in the ability to move the lower jaw suggests the dislocation of the disc in the jaw joint. When it has moved from its normal position, the jaw cannot move as well. It can occur on one or both sides. It may be associated with pain, but not necessarily. Non-surgical treatment is focused on stabilizing jaw position so the disc can return to its normal position and remain there.

Answer 15

You mean "lockjaw"?: Good that you separated the two words because the one above relates to tetanus, in which there is muscular rigidity of a host of areas due to paralysis of inhibitory neurons by the toxin produced by clostridium tetani.

Answer 16

See a dentist: A pathological condition in which the mouth is held shut by sustained spasm of the masseter (jaw) muscle, often observed in cases of tetanus. It can also be an anatomical problem where the lower jaw comes forward out of its socket.

Answer 17

See oral surgeon.: True "lockjaw" is from tetanus bacteria entering your body: Spasms and stiffness in your jaw muscles, stiffness of your neck muscles, difficulty swallowing, stiffness of your abdominal muscles. I'm assuming you mean you jaw stuck. Can either be do jaw out of socket or problem with disk in jaw joint. In any event, see an oral surgeon to help you with diagnosis and treatment.

Answer 18

Lockjaw: Most common cause of lockjaw (trismus) is inflammation of soft tissue around impacted third molar tooth (lower wisdom teeth). Other causes can be inflammation of muscles of mastication (chewing) after removal of wisdom teeth, peritonsillar abscess (around inflamed tonsils), tmj, or rarely result of use of stimulants to treat adhd.

Answer 19

Classically, lockjaw: Is a term for tetanus but it can be used for disease of the TMJ joint of the jaw.

Answer 20

Tmj: Many things can cause the jaw to lock such as disk problems in the jaw joint, arthritis, fracture of the joint, jaw muscle issues, multiple surgeries on the joint and pathology/growth in the joints. See a dentist for an evaluation.

Answer 21

A few things: True "lockjaw" is from tetanus bacteria entering your body: Spasms and stiffness in your jaw muscles, stiffness of your neck muscles, difficulty swallowing, stiffness of your abdominal muscles. I'm assuming you mean you jaw stuck. Can either be do jaw out of socket or problem with disk in jaw joint. In any event, see an oral surgeon to help you with diagnosis and treatment.

Answer 22

Depends on the cause: Lock jaw or the ability to open and close the lower jaw may occur from a number of different causes. The recommended course of treatment is dependent upon the cause.

Answer 23

Physical therapy: You should be examined. If you can tolerate Ibuprofen ( anti-inflammatory) medication in conjunction with a set of opening exercises.

Answer 24

Lock jaw: The diagnosis of "lock jaw" is not a diagnosis at all. First, if you have TMJ disease, you may have a displaced jaw joint disk. This may cause the jaw to lock open (you can't close all the way) or closed (you can't open). Second, there may be anatomic changes (arthritis, bone resorption) causing this. You need an examination by an oral surgeon who manages TMJ disorders.

Answer 25

TMJ Disc Displaced : This condition is characterized by displacement of the disc on closing followed by a failure to reduce the disc on opening and cause the jaw lock. The disorder is sometimes referred as "closed lock.". Initial therapy should be directed toward reducing the disc displacement through a manual mobilization. Rec.: see orofacial pain specialist for conservative solution. Very common and treatable.

Answer 26

Depends: Depends on what you mean by "lock jaw". If you mean true jaw dislocation - jaw locked open wide. See oral surgeon today. If you mean the disk is dislocated, history of jaw pain. clicking, limited opening - that is serious TMJ problem. See TMJ expert. Any dentist can be TMJ expert with training and experience. Most commonly, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and orofacial pain specialist.

my jaw clicks really loud when i chew. does this indicate lockjaw?

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