Mandibular jaw pain can be caused by numerous problems. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, mandibular or lower jaw pain can lead to many complications, including difficulty eating, teeth misalignment and infection of the face. Jaw pain can be mild, moderate or severe, and it can affect a person's quality of life. Some types of mandibular jaw pain can be treated conservatively, while other types may require surgical intervention.
Broken Jaw
A broken jaw can cause mandibular jaw pain. According to the NIH, a broken jaw is a fracture of the jaw bone or mandible. Fractured mandibles usually heal fully after appropriate treatment, although certain complications can arise from a broken jaw, including airway blockages, bleeding, breathing food and and blood into the lungs and difficulty eating. The NIH states that the most common cause of a broken jaw is blunt-force trauma to the face and jaw, due to physical assault, factory accidents, motor vehicle accidents and sports-related injuries. Athletes who participate in contact sports--especially boxing--may be particularly susceptible to broken jaws. Common signs and symptoms associated with a broken jaw include inability to fully open the mouth, bleeding from the mouth, facial bruising and swelling, loose teeth, jaw pain made worse with chewing and facial numbness.
Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess can cause mandibular pain. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC--a Baltimore, Maryland-based teaching hospital--states that a tooth abscess, also known as a dental abscess, is a collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection in a tooth. A tooth abscess is secondary to tooth decay or degeneration, although it can also be caused by tooth trauma, such as a chipped tooth or broken tooth. Tooth decay causes holes to form in the tooth's enamel, which allows bacteria to penetrate the tooth and infect the pulp or the center of the tooth. Once the center of the tooth is infected, the infection can spread from the root to the surrounding tissue, including the bones that support the teeth, such as the mandible. The infection causes pus formation--a collection of white blood cells, bacteria and dead tissue--along with pain and swelling in the affected area.
Dislocated Jaw
A dislocated jaw occurs when the part of the mandible that helps form the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ--the joint that connects the jaw to the skull--moves out of its normal position. According to the Merck Manuals website, a dislocated jaw or mandible is usually extremely painful. A dislocated jaw makes it impossible to close the jaw. In many cases, the jaw is twisted to one side of the face. One of the most common causes of a dislocated jaw is opening the mouth excessively wide, which can occur when a person yawns or vomits or is engaged in a dental procedure that lasts for a significant amount of time. Another possible cause of jaw dislocation is traumatic injury. Common signs and symptoms associated with a dislocated jaw include an inability to speak properly, drooling, an inability to fully close the mouth, a protruding jaw, and jaw and face pain that is worse with jaw movement.
