How long does a fractured jaw take to heal. What are the common causes of a fractured jaw. How is a broken jaw treated. What can you do to manage discomfort and speed up recovery.

Understanding Jaw Fractures: Causes and Symptoms

A fractured jaw is a serious injury that can significantly impact a person’s daily life. Understanding the causes and symptoms is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. Let’s explore the common causes and telltale signs of a broken jaw.

Common Causes of Jaw Fractures

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls (e.g., down stairs, off ladders, diving into shallow water)
• Sports injuries (especially in contact sports like football and hockey)
• Assaults and domestic violence

Among these, car crashes are the most frequent cause of jaw fractures. The impact force during a collision can easily damage the facial bones, including the jaw.

Recognizing Jaw Fracture Symptoms

Identifying a fractured jaw early is crucial for proper treatment and recovery. Here are the key symptoms to watch for:

• Pain when biting or chewing
• Bruising around the chin and cheeks
• Swelling in the jaw area
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Problems with speech clarity
• Numbness in the chin or lips

Is a fractured jaw always painful? While pain is a common symptom, the severity can vary depending on the fracture’s location and extent. Some individuals might experience intense discomfort, while others may have more subtle symptoms.

Jaw Fracture Treatment Options: From Conservative to Surgical

The treatment approach for a fractured jaw depends on the severity and type of fracture. Medical professionals typically classify jaw fractures into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. Let’s examine the various treatment options available.

Conservative Treatment for Mild Fractures

For mild fractures with no bone displacement, conservative treatment may be sufficient. This approach typically includes:

• Application of cold packs to reduce swelling
• Rest and limited jaw movement
• Pain medication to manage discomfort

How long does conservative treatment take? In most cases, mild fractures treated conservatively can heal within 4-6 weeks.

Surgical Intervention for Moderate to Severe Fractures

When dealing with moderate to severe fractures involving bone displacement, surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgical options include:

• Wiring the jaw shut to allow proper alignment and healing
• Insertion of pins or plates to stabilize the bone
• Realignment of multiple fractures using wires, pins, or plates

Can all jaw fractures be treated without surgery? While many cases can be managed conservatively, moderate to severe fractures often require surgical intervention to ensure proper healing and prevent long-term complications.

The Jaw Fracture Healing Timeline: What to Expect

Understanding the healing timeline for a fractured jaw can help patients set realistic expectations and better manage their recovery. The healing process can vary significantly based on several factors.

Factors Influencing Healing Time

• Severity of the fracture
• Patient’s age
• Overall health and nutrition
• Adherence to post-treatment instructions

How long does it typically take for a fractured jaw to heal completely? The healing time can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the factors mentioned above. Here’s a general timeline:

• Mild fractures (conservative treatment): 4-6 weeks
• Moderate to severe fractures (surgical intervention): 3-6 months

Why does surgical treatment lead to a longer recovery time? Surgical intervention is typically required for more complex fractures, which naturally take longer to heal. Additionally, the body needs time to recover from the surgical procedure itself.

Managing Discomfort and Accelerating Recovery

While the healing process takes time, there are several strategies patients can employ to manage discomfort and potentially speed up their recovery. Following these tips can lead to a smoother healing journey.

Dietary Considerations

What should you eat with a fractured jaw? Focus on soft foods that require minimal chewing:

• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Pureed soups
• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Soft-cooked eggs

Avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods that could strain your jaw or disrupt the healing process.

Hydration and Pain Management

Staying hydrated is crucial for overall healing. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. For pain relief, consider over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Can lifestyle changes impact jaw fracture recovery? Absolutely. Here are some key adjustments to consider:

• Avoid smoking, as it can slow healing and increase the risk of infection
• Get adequate rest to support your body’s healing processes
• Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding jaw exercises or physical therapy
• Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent infections

Post-Operative Care: Ensuring Optimal Healing

For patients who undergo surgical treatment for their fractured jaw, proper post-operative care is crucial for a successful recovery. Following your surgeon’s instructions carefully can help prevent complications and promote faster healing.

Essential Post-Op Supplies

What items should you have on hand after jaw fracture surgery? Here’s a list of essential supplies:

• Syringe for rinsing
• Saline solution (can be homemade with 1 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water)
• Child-sized toothbrush or Waterpik® for gentle cleaning
• Scissors or pocket knife (for cutting elastics if jaws are wired shut)
• Vaseline for lip care

Post-Operative Instructions

How should you care for your jaw after surgery? Follow these general guidelines:

1. Keep your head elevated, even while sleeping, to reduce swelling
2. Apply ice packs to the affected area for the first 48 hours
3. Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day
4. Take prescribed medications as directed
5. Avoid strenuous activities for the duration specified by your surgeon

Remember, these are general guidelines. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your oral surgeon or healthcare provider.

Potential Complications and When to Seek Help

While most jaw fractures heal without significant issues, it’s important to be aware of potential complications and know when to seek medical attention. Recognizing these signs early can prevent more serious problems down the line.

Common Complications

What complications can arise from a fractured jaw? Some potential issues include:

• Infection at the fracture site
• Misalignment of the jaw
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Nerve damage leading to numbness or tingling
• Difficulty with jaw movement or chewing

Warning Signs

When should you contact your healthcare provider? Be alert for these warning signs:

• Increased pain or swelling after the initial recovery period
• Fever or signs of infection
• Persistent numbness or tingling in the face or jaw
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop with applied pressure

Is it normal to experience some discomfort during recovery? While some discomfort is expected, severe or increasing pain is not normal and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Long-Term Outlook and Follow-Up Care

Understanding the long-term outlook for a fractured jaw and the importance of follow-up care can help patients navigate their recovery journey more effectively. Let’s explore what to expect in the months and years following a jaw fracture.

Long-Term Prognosis

What is the long-term outlook for patients with a fractured jaw? In most cases, with proper treatment and care, patients can expect a full recovery. However, some factors may influence the long-term outcome:

• Severity of the initial injury
• Timeliness and quality of treatment
• Patient’s overall health and age
• Adherence to post-treatment instructions

Can there be lasting effects from a jaw fracture? While most patients recover fully, some may experience long-term issues such as:

• Mild jaw misalignment
• Occasional jaw pain or stiffness
• Changes in bite or dental occlusion
• Increased risk of TMJ disorders

Importance of Follow-Up Care

Why is follow-up care crucial after a jaw fracture? Regular check-ups allow your healthcare provider to:

• Monitor the healing process
• Identify and address any complications early
• Adjust treatment plans if necessary
• Provide guidance on returning to normal activities

How often should you have follow-up appointments? The frequency of follow-up visits will depend on your specific case, but typically include:

• An initial follow-up within 1-2 weeks of treatment
• Regular check-ups every 4-6 weeks during the healing process
• A final evaluation once healing is complete

Your healthcare provider may recommend additional visits or imaging studies if there are concerns about the healing process.

Returning to Normal Activities

When can you resume normal activities after a jaw fracture? The timeline for returning to work, school, or sports will vary depending on the severity of your injury and your recovery progress. Here are some general guidelines:

• Light activities: Usually possible within a few weeks
• Work or school: Often resumable within 4-6 weeks for non-physical jobs
• Physical activities: May need to wait 6-8 weeks or longer
• Contact sports: Often restricted for 3-6 months or more

Always consult with your healthcare provider before resuming any activities, especially those involving physical exertion or potential jaw impact.

In conclusion, recovering from a fractured jaw is a journey that requires patience, proper care, and close follow-up with healthcare professionals. By understanding the healing process, adhering to treatment plans, and staying vigilant for potential complications, patients can optimize their recovery and look forward to a return to normal jaw function. Remember, every case is unique, so always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice and guidance throughout your recovery journey.

How Long Does a Fractured Jaw Take to Heal?

The jaw is a complex bone designed to withstand significant force. Most fractured jaws result from an accident—often from sports injuries or car accidents—and can take considerable time to heal. Here’s what you need to know. 

What are the common causes of a fractured jaw?

Common causes include:

Motor vehicle accidents. A car crash is the most common cause of a broken jaw.

Falls. Falling down stairs or off a ladder often causes facial fractures, including fractured jaws. Other causes include diving into shallow water and falling from heights such as buildings or ladders.

Sports injuries. Contact sports such as football and hockey can cause facial fractures, including broken jaws.

Assaults and domestic violence. Assaults are another significant cause of facial fractures. Domestic violence often results in facial trauma, which includes fractured jaws.

What are the symptoms of a fractured jaw?

A fractured jaw can be extremely painful and may make eating, drinking, and speaking difficult.

Symptoms include:

• Pain when biting down on food or chewing
• Bruising around the chin and cheeks
• Swelling around the chin and cheeks
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Difficulty speaking clearly
• Numbness in the chin or lips

If a fractured jaw isn’t treated properly, you may experience complications such as infection, nerve damage, and permanent damage to your facial structures.

If you suspect you have a fractured jaw, it’s essential to seek immediate treatment because the bone may be displaced and require repositioning to heal correctly.

How Is a broken jaw treated?

Treatment for a broken jaw will depend on the fracture type and the damage to your jawbone and surrounding soft tissue. In some cases, a fractured jaw can be treated with a splint or cast that keeps the bones in place while they heal. Your doctor may need to insert pins or plates into your bone to stabilize it during healing.

If your jawbone was fractured in multiple places, your oral surgeon might use wires, pins, or plates to align the bones. In some cases, oral surgeons will wait until the swelling goes down, allowing them to see what needs repair during surgery. You may also need dental treatment if you’ve sustained damage to your teeth.

How long does a fractured jaw take to heal?

A fracture can be classified as mild (if there are no signs of displacement), moderate (if there is a displacement of bone fragments), or severe (if there is significant displacement).

The jaw can take up to six months to heal after being broken because of several factors, including the severity of the injury, age, and overall health.

The approximate healing times for a broken jaw are as follows:

• Conservative treatment (cold packs, rest, and medication), no surgery: 4-6 weeks.
• Surgical wiring or plates: 3-6 months.

In many cases, surgery isn’t required. If it is, the recovery time will take significantly longer.

How can I manage discomfort and speed up recovery?

For the best outcome, following your oral surgeon’s instructions after treatment is essential. Doing so will help ensure you heal fully and as quickly as possible with minimal discomfort.

While you can’t do anything about the healing process, there are several things you can do to help speed up recovery and make it less painful.

Eat soft foods. While recovering from a fractured jaw, eat only soft foods that are easy to chew. Avoid crunchy foods and hard-to-chew items like raw vegetables or meat.

Drink plenty of water. Adequate hydration can help the body heal. 

Try an over-the-counter pain reliever. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), may help relieve discomfort and reduce swelling.

Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk of infection and slows healing time.

Rio Grande Oral Surgery Treats Facial Trauma

Understanding how long it takes to heal from a fractured jaw will help you set realistic expectations and better manage your recovery.

If you’ve sustained facial trauma and think you may have a fractured jaw, seek treatment immediately. Call 505-821-2111 today to schedule or request an appointment.

Post-Operative Instructions: After Jaw Fracture Surgery

Following these instructions and the instructions the nurses have given to you will result in fewer complications and make your recovery period easier. Failure to follow these instructions could result in unnecessary pain, delay in healing, or complications, which could negatively affect the outcome of your treatment.

Following surgery, your jaws may be held together with elastics. A period of 2–6 weeks is usually required for initial bone healing.

What You Need For Home

• Syringe
• Saline (to make your own: dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water)
• Child sized toothbrush/Waterpik^®
• Scissors/pocket knife (for cutting elastics if your jaws are held closed)
• Vaseline or lip balm
• Blender or food processor

Medications/Prescriptions

If necessary, a prescription for medications will be provided at the time of your discharge. Please take the medication as prescribed until it is finished. You may be sent home with a prescription for a liquid pain reliever, which can be administered through a syringe as you have been shown, or sipped from a spoon. If your pain reliever is in pill form, you can crush it and mix it with 10–20 ml of water or juice to be supped or administered through a syringe.

You may also be given a prescription for a liquid antibiotic to prevent infection. It is important to take this medication as prescribed until it is finished. You may also be given a prescription for an antibiotic mouth rinse. It is very important to keep your mouth clean.

An increase in swelling and pain after the first week could indicate an infection, which may require treatment. Should this happen to you, contact your doctor.

Care of The Operative Area

Swelling

For the first 48 hours after surgery, you will be given ice packs, which will help to minimize swelling. Following this period, you will need to use heat (hot, wet facecloth, hot water bottle, heating pad, or microwaveable pack) to help reduce the remaining bruising and swelling. As it takes about 2 weeks for the majority of the swelling to disappear, continue to use heat for 30–45 minutes, 4–5 times a day for at least 1–2 weeks after you are discharged from the hospital. A few minutes of gentle massage while using the heat also helps.

Bleeding

Prolonged bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding from the incision sites following discharge from the hospital, is not normal, and you should contact your doctor if this occurs.

Sore Throat

For the first couple of days following surgery, you may experience a sore throat and some nasal decongestion. This is normal after anesthesia and should go away within a couple of days. Drinking plenty of liquids usually helps with the throat tenderness.

Lip Care

You will be unable to keep your lips moist when your jaws are held together with elastics. In addition, cracking of the corners of the mouth does sometimes occur following surgery. Apply Vaseline or lip balm regularly to keep these areas from becoming too dry or chapped.

Oral Hygiene/Mouth Care

It is important to remember to clean your teeth and rinse your mouth routinely following surgery. Using a Waterpik® after the first week is an excellent aid. A mild salt solution or a commercial mouthwash (non-alcohol based) will assist you in keeping your mouth clean. It is important to rinse your mouth with 20–30 ml of saline frequently every 2 hours as well as after meals. You can make your own saline (see above). Use a child toothbrush to clean the outside of your teeth. You can start brushing the front of your teeth as soon as it is not too painful and progress to the back of your mouth when the swelling in your cheeks comes down. You must do this as thoroughly as possible. You will, of course, not be able to brush the tongue side of your teeth with a brush. The tongue side of the teeth can be brushed by moving your tongue across them while using a mouth rinse. You should avoid carbonated beverages, as they tend to decalcify your teeth.

Muscle Spasm and Mobilization

Occasionally, several elastics will break away during the fixation (teeth together) period. As long as you cannot open your mouth significantly, this is not a problem, and elastics will be replaced at one of your post-operative visits. If a large number of elastics are lost, and you can open your mouth, don’t be alarmed. You should, however, contact your doctor so that new elastics can be placed.

Diet

Since your jaws may be held together with elastics, you will require what is called a balanced fluid diet (blenderized). It is essential that your body receives adequate fluids and nourishment in order to maintain your nutritional status and promote healing.

You will be limited to a strictly liquid diet until your jaw is no longer tightly held together. During this period, you will become creative with your menu choices. It is especially important to drink adequate amounts of fluids, 3–4 liters per day. You can purchase liquid nutritional supplements (such as Ensure or Boost) in a grocery store. You may continue to use the syringe for feeding, or when you are comfortable, use a straw or drink from a glass. A nutritious dietary intake is important to promote healing and decreasing the possibility of infection. You can expect to about 5–10% of your total body weight during the first 6 weeks following your surgery. A rapid loss of weight during the first week is usually due to fluid loss.

After the first 6 weeks, you can progress slowly to a normal diet. The first 4 weeks following the removal of the tight elastics, your diet should involve soft foods (eggs, potatoes, fish, pasta, etc.).

Here are some tips for creating a personal menu:

• You may eat anything that can be thinned into liquid form. Meals may be blenderized until smooth. If food is still lumpy, use a strainer.
• Cold whole milk can be used to thin puddings, yogurt, cereal, sandwiches, ice cream, and cakes.
• Warm whole milk can be used to thin cheese, eggs, toast, hot cereal, muffins, pasta, hot main dishes, and casseroles.
• Fruit juice can be used to thin fruit, yogurt, and ice cream.

Weight loss is a common result of a liquid diet. If you are experiencing weight loss, try snacking between meals and adding whole milk cheese or skim milk powder to meals to boost caloric intake. Constipation may result from the low fiber content in liquid diets or may be a side effect of some pain medications. To avoid this, try to include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet, and add prune juice to your daily menu.

Alcohol and smoking can delay wound healing and promote infection. Alcohol and smoking should be avoided until your surgical sites are completely healed.

Choking

In the unlikely possibility that choking or breathing difficulties may occur, we recommend that you have scissors or a pocket knife with you at all times while your teeth are wired together. In the rare event that you need to cut the elastics, proceed with cutting the elastics and then contact your doctor immediately. The nurses will instruction in the art of cutting the elastics in the event of an emergency.

Nausea

Avoid alcohol or foods that may cause your stomach to become upset. Should you experience nausea, you can use over-the-counter anti-nausea medication as directed on the bottle. If the nausea persists, please contact your doctor.

In most cases of vomiting, the elastics do not require removal. It is extremely rare to have to remove the elastics as the stomach contents are of liquid nature and can escape through and around the teeth. If emergency elastic removal (for vomiting or breathing difficulties) is required, please contact your doctor immediately. Remember that during the tight fixation period (with elastics), you should carry scissors or a pocketknife with you wherever you go.

Warning Signs of Complications

The following symptoms may be a sign of infection or other complications; therefore, you should follow up immediately with your doctor if they occur.

• Redness
• Increased swelling
• Increased or excessive pain
• Foul odor from the mouth
• Fever and/or chills
• Bleeding inside the mouth (wires may need to be adjusted)

Physical Activity

Physical activity should be kept to a minimum for at least 6–8 weeks after surgery. It is very important that you realize that you just had a significant operation that requires a well-rested recovery period. Excessive activity (running, exercising, swimming, heavy lifting, house cleaning, contact sports, going up and down stairs quickly, etc.) can cause bleeding and/or dizziness. If you had upper jaw fracture, you should avoid bending over during this time period as it may cause dizziness.

Excessive fatigue can also slow the healing process as well as increase the chance of infection by reducing your resistance. A gradual increase back to normal activity is the most sensible approach. Contact or other sports in which direct physical contact or injury are possible should be avoided for 2–3 months to minimize the risk of another fracture. If you have any specific activities you wish to perform following your surgery, please discuss this with your doctor.

Follow-Up With Your Doctor

A follow-up appointment should be arranged with your doctor’s office prior to discharge. If an appointment has not been made, please call your doctor’s office during regular business hours to arrange a follow-up appointment.

Please follow any other instructions that have been explained to you by your doctor.

Please review these tips for the safe use and proper disposal of prescription medications.

If you have any questions or problems, do not hesitate to call our office at (360) 293-2808 or our after-hours telephone number at (360) 647-4027. However, if you are experiencing severe bleeding or breathing problems requiring immediate attention, please proceed to the nearest Emergency Department or Dial 911.

How is the rehabilitation of patients after a fracture of the lower jaw?

All patients stay in hospital for 7-10 days, up to a maximum of 17-21 days depending on availability. If there are indications, we operate patients on duty: when there is a large blood loss or a violation of the integrity of the bone tissue with a large displacement, patients should be taken immediately to the operating room. In most cases, a conservative method should be used first to dissect the fragments by hand and place them in the correct position, and if indicated, then operate. After the operation, they stay in the hospital for at least 5-10 days. Before removing the stitches, the patient is observed again, control pictures are taken. Subsequently, these patients are treated in the clinic at the place of residence. After 4-6 weeks, control pictures are taken. If there is no change, re-displacement and patient complaints, that is, it is clinically and radiologically visible that the fracture heals without any changes, then we remove the splints.

After this, the most important stage of rehabilitation begins. Since the teeth have been in contact with each other for a whole month, changes occur both on the part of the mucous membrane and on the part of the bone tissue. The first stage of rehabilitation is always professional hygiene. Despite the fact that we clean the patient’s mouth in a hospital and explain how to clean at home, 10-14 days after discharge, he is without daily medical supervision. From the outside, he can clean his teeth quite well. On the part of the tongue and the inner surface, there are always plaque phenomena, hygiene is always difficult there. Therefore, the first step is professional hygiene.

The next step is the appointment of physiotherapy, aimed primarily at reducing edema and resorption of hematomas. It is possible to use mechanotherapy. Mechanotherapy is the development of the lower jaw, the ability to open the mouth wide with the help of a special device or special gymnastics. We use different diets to control how the patient opens his mouth, how he chews food. This stage sometimes falls out when receiving these patients in a polyclinic, as this is a rather complicated and painstaking process. Most of the techniques are widely described in methodological manuals. Sometimes we recommend that patients engage in mechanotherapy on their own.

Tags:

dentistry

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jaw

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fracture

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mandibular fracture

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Maxillofacial Surgery

Jaw healed incorrectly after a fracture, methods of treatment Under such conditions, fragments of the jaws grow together without complications and in the correct position.

The consequence of violation of one of these conditions is that the jaws often heal with the displacement of debris, due to which fractures are formed that have not healed properly, and the wound heals in the form of rough scars that restrict the movement of the jaw, lips, tongue.

The nature of these deformations is very different. Incorrectly fused fractures of the lower jaw are characterized by violations of the dentoalveolar system and depend on the location of the fracture, the degree of discrepancy between the fragments, and the severity of the deformation. Of course, the appearance of the patient changes. There is an elongation of the face and tension of the soft tissues of the area near the mouth. Facial asymmetry often occurs. The displacement of the fragments of the lower jaw leads to the displacement of the articular heads, which leads to disruption of the functioning of the temporomandibular joint, as well as chewing muscles. A change in the position of the fragments of the jaws leads to a violation of speech, mainly due to a decrease in the volume of the oral cavity. The clinical picture is characterized by the degree of occlusal disorders.

Surgical treatment of fractures that have not healed properly with a slight functional impairment does not cause any particular difficulties.

Patients are divided into three groups. In patients of the first group, there is a tubercular appearance of occlusal contacts; in the second, the teeth contact only with lateral surfaces; in patients of the third group, the closure of the teeth is completely absent.

The method of treatment for mandibular fractures that have not healed properly is, of course, surgical, i.e. fragments are repositioned and immobilized. In case of refusal of patients from treatment, prosthetic, orthopedic, hardware-surgical methods of treatment are used.

Tactics of therapeutic measures depends on the presence of teeth in the jaw.

Treatment of improperly fused fractures of the jaw with preserved dentition has some peculiarities. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the age of the patient. So, if there are signs of an open bite, then at a young age orthopedic methods give good results, while in elderly patients with the same pathology, grinding of the teeth on which the bite is fixed, or even their removal, will be effective. Such tactics must be observed in the presence of other pathological bites, paying attention to the age of the patients.

From orthopedic constructions, plastic caps are widely used – crowns, cast crowns, metal-ceramic and metal-plastic caps or crowns, cast arch prostheses, and in very difficult cases – collapsible prostheses.

An orthopedic doctor finds himself in difficult conditions when treating patients with fractures, improperly fused and with defects in the dentition. The main task here is to restore the dentition, normalize occlusal relationships and restore the appearance of the patient. Among the most important orthopedic structures are fixed bridges and removable types of dentures.

Particular attention should be paid to the state of periodontal tissues, in terms of the possibility of their use as a support for orthopedic structures.