What Causes Lockjaw & How A TMJ Doctor Can Help?

Lockjaw is medically known as trismus. It is a condition where a person experiences restricted jaw movement, making it difficult to open the mouth fully. This can lead to challenges in eating, speaking, and even maintaining oral hygiene. While various factors can cause lockjaw, one of the most common reasons is a Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder. When the jaw joints and surrounding muscles become dysfunctional, they can lead to stiffness, discomfort, and limited mobility. 

In this blog we will discuss more about lockjaw and how a TMJ doctor can help. 

What Causes Lockjaw?

1. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

Disorders of the TMJ are a common source of lockjaw. The TMJ connects the jawbone with the skull, and inflammation or improper alignment may lead to restriction in movement of the jaw. Causes of lockjaw with respect to TMJ include:

Jaw misalignment: An improper position of the jaw can stress the TMJ way too much.

Teeth grinding (bruxism): Grinding or locking of the teeth over time bring tightness to the muscles and stresses the joints.

Inflammatory condition of the joint: TMJ dysfunction leads to swelling and pain, thus limiting movement.

2. Muscle Spasms & Overuse

Overuse of jaw muscles can cause spasm of the muscles. This can lead to a limit of movement of the jaw. Stress-induced prolonged clenching of the teeth or habitual excessive gum chewing can contribute to muscle tightness or stiffness.

3. Trauma or Injury

Accidents, sports injuries, or whiplash may damage the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles. This can end up restricting movement and causing pain.

How can TMJ Surgeons Help?

TMJ doctors, like Dr. Luis, see through the mechanical causes of the lockjaw. Here is how they can help you: 

1. Diagnosis

The first, and most important, step to treating an illness is understanding where it comes from. TMJ doctors like Dr. Luis goes through:

Physical examination: Evaluating the patient’s jaw mobility, muscle stiffness, and functioning of the joint.

Advanced imaging tests: X-ray and scans help to assess the joint’s condition and misalignments.

2. Arthroscopy

Such a condition of TMJ can be treated through arthroscopy. It is a safe and a minimally invasive procedure. A small camera being passed into the joint for its diagnosis. It treats inflammation and structural problems without any major complications.

3. Post-Arthroscopy General Approaches

In TMJ, arthroscopic procedures sometimes will be followed by other methods of jaw therapy such as:

Jaw exercises & stretching: Certain exercises should be included to improve mobility and tension release.

Lifestyle alterations: Such include stress management techniques and dietary alterations so as not to find oneself needing to take pain relievers upon complications.

When to Seek Medical Intervention?

Persistent stiffness or pain in the jaw, accompanied by difficulty in eating, warrants immediate medical intervention. Clicking and popping sounds may also indicate that your jaw is not functioning properly and requires a professional evaluation.

To Wrap It Up

Lockjaw keeps interfering with our daily activities. Early intervention can limit the scope of complications. If TMJ dysfunction is the major cause, Dr. Luis would apply treatment that is specialized to resuming complete jaw usage and relief from pain. Don’t let lockjaw mess up with your quality of life. See how Dr. Luis can help you with effective treatments.