Many diseases, disorders and conditions, both local and systemic, cause pain in and around the jaw. Areas affected include the teeth, sinuses, ears and neck. Jaw pain includes referred or migratory pain from areas such as the neck and head. Jaw pain can be acute, or it may develop slowly and become chronic.
Broken or Dislocated Jaw
There is a distinct difference in a broken and a dislocated jaw. A broken jaw is a break in the upper jawbone, known as the maxilla, or the lower jawbone, known as the mandible. A dislocated jaw, according to MedlinePlus, occurs when the mandible moves out of its normal position at one or both joints where it attaches to the skull.
Facial injury is the most common cause of a broken or dislocated jaw, and immediate medical attention is required, states MedlinePlus. Symptoms of a dislocated jaw include the inability to close the mouth, facial or jaw pain that worsens on movement and misalignment of teeth. A broken jaw presents with symptoms of bleeding, facial swelling and limited jaw movement.
TMJ
TMJ is the shortened, common name for the temporomandibular joint that is located on each side of the head in front of each ear. Physical stress on the joint and the surrounding structures, which includes the jaw, face and neck muscles, teeth, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves and cartilage, causes many of the symptoms related to TMJ, as reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Symptoms of TMJ disorders include an earache, headache, facial pain, difficulty biting or chewing, jaw pain and limited ability to open and close the mouth. UMMC states that treatment options include gentle facial massage, reducing stress and teeth grinding, moist heat on the face, and avoiding continual jaw movement, such as singing or chewing gum.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition, affects the trigeminal nerve, which travels from the brain to the face. The symptoms may start as mild, occasional bouts of pain and increase to severe, jabbing pain along the trigeminal nerve pathway, according to MayoClinic.com. The nerve branches include the jaw, teeth, cheek, lips and gums. Pain most often affects only one side of the face.
As the trigeminal neuralgia advances, MayoClinic reports that the attacks become more frequent and increase in intensity. Routine daily activities--shaving, eating, talking, smiling, drinking--are known causes of an outburst of trigeminal neuralgia pain. Treatment options include medications to reduce or block the pain signals sent to the brain, temporarily numbing the affected area with alcohol injections and surgery to reduce the pressure on the trigeminal nerve.
