Current Events > Banged my right jaw hinge a week ago and it's not getting better

(+) Yeah! (+)

I went to hug my mom a week ago and she accidentally banged her head into my right jaw hinge. My jaw feels off now. I'm getting a lot of grinding, popping, clicking, and soreness/tightness by my ear in my opposite (left) hinge. I can open my mouth and chew but not as much as before without discomfort. Could I have dislocated it?

What type of professional am I supposed to see for this and what would they do? I was planning on having a cleaning since I haven't had one in two years due to the pandemic. I have a lot of tartar. I'm on medicaid and my general dentist doesn't take my insurance anymore. Should I try and go for a cleaning first?

I'm so upset over this. This has been the worst year of my life in terms of my health. I keep getting hurt from the most basic movements.

Try ice

---

bump

Eminem once rhymed orange with door hinge while talking to Anderson Cooper. The phrase jaw hinge reminded me.

---

AloneIBreak posted...

Eminem once rhymed orange with door hinge while talking to Anderson Cooper. The phrase jaw hinge reminded me.

thank you

---

It actually does sound like symptoms of "subluxation" (partial dislocation), especially the difficulty closing your mouth

Subluxation will heal on its own but a dentist is the best doctor to see (ER doc or orthopedist could do it too probably). You could get a buddy to try it on you first -- there are good guides on YouTube ("how to reduce jaw dislocation")

Have you taken any medicine for it? It could just be inflammation related to your poor mouth hygiene

(I'm a paramedic)

---

Njolk posted...

It actually does sound like symptoms of "subluxation" (partial dislocation), especially the difficulty closing your mouth

Subluxation will heal on its own but a dentist is the best doctor to see (ER doc or orthopedist could do it too probably). You could get a buddy to try it on you first -- there are good guides on YouTube ("how to reduce jaw dislocation")

Have you taken any medicine for it? It could just be inflammation related to your poor mouth hygiene

(I'm a paramedic)

Ive just tried tylenol and aleve. They mildly help the pain but not the feeling or function. My jaw felt fine before I was hit. I just can't believe this is happening after a bump.

rattlesnake30 posted...

bump

It happened again?

---

rattlesnake30 posted...

Ive just tried tylenol and aleve. They mildly help the pain but not the feeling or function. My jaw felt fine before I was hit. I just can't believe this is happening after a bump.

Reading more about it (https://www.nursingcenter.com/ce_articleprint?an=01261775-201607000-00003) I am more convinced you do have this

Posterior dislocations commonly occur when the patient receives a direct blow to the chin. This mechanism of injury causes the mandibular condyle to subluxate and move posteriorly toward the mastoid bone. This type of dislocation can also cause injury to the external auditory canal.

this even says "a direct blow to the chin can cause a version where your jaw moves backward (instead of the normal forward one) and it makes your ear hurt"

It's not an emergency per se but the longer you wait the worse it will be in the long run


---

Njolk posted...

Reading more about it (https://www.nursingcenter.com/ce_articleprint?an=01261775-201607000-00003) I am more convinced you do have this

Posterior dislocations commonly occur when the patient receives a direct blow to the chin. This mechanism of injury causes the mandibular condyle to subluxate and move posteriorly toward the mastoid bone. This type of dislocation can also cause injury to the external auditory canal.

this even says "a direct blow to the chin can cause a version where your jaw moves backward (instead of the normal forward one) and it makes your ear hurt"

It's not an emergency per se but the longer you wait the worse it will be in the long run

I got hit in the area next to my right ear and most of my pain, popping, grinding, is on my left side. I'm just so unsure of who I should see.