The lower jaw of a person is the only moving part of the skull. Its excellent horizontal and vertical mobility, as well as a horseshoe-shaped shape make it easy to carry out chewing functions. But precisely because of its structure, such a phenomenon as subluxation and dislocation of the jaw is very common . How to set the joint back and what causes the displacement?
Consider examples
Joint deformity can be caused by epilepsy, rheumatism, encephalopathy, arthritis, or osteomyelitis. Displacement occurs during sudden movements if the ligaments in a person are weakened, with excessive opening of the mouth (strong yawning, screaming, laughing), smoothing of the articular fossa (most often this is a congenital pathology) and, of course, due to mechanical injuries. The root causes include the presence in people of general disorders of joint activity, possible violations of the jaw structure (for example, removal of one or several teeth), any types of pathologies that provoke the occurrence of seizures, improper eating (too large and hard pieces).
The difference between dislocation and subluxation
In order to figure out how to straighten the jaw, you need to know the difference between a subluxation and a dislocation. The lower jaw is located in the temporomandibular joint. Its dislocation (subluxation) occurs in case of loss of the head of the jaw from this joint. When repeating such phenomena, you can be sure that this will become a regularity. A subluxation, unlike a dislocation, causes a non-critical displacement and slightly damages the ligaments and muscles located in this area. Frequent exposure to force in excess of the strength of the ligaments leads to a displacement of the jaw. Over time, the ligaments weaken, and less and less strength is required to get injured, which means that the frequency of such phenomena will constantly increase.
Symptoms
If a person with such an injury is nearby, you need to know how to straighten your jaw and fix the problem quickly. Signs of a slight subluxation are not so bright, but they bring quite a lot of discomfort. The main symptoms of dislocation are: an outwardly obvious change in the occlusion, the presence of pain in the lower jaw, the inconvenience of closing and opening the mouth. The subluxation does not cause such painful sensations, a person can even communicate, carry out movements with his jaw, but at the same time feel characteristic clicks. With a chronic subluxation, you should not think about how to straighten the jaw yourself, but it is better to immediately contact a specialist, since it is in an unnatural position for a long time and self-medication can only do harm.
Hippocrates method
But in most cases, a similar injury can be dealt with without anesthesia and can quickly eliminate jaw dislocation. Hippocrates also knew how to correct a shifted joint, the method of which many use to the present day. In order to do this correctly, you must strictly adhere to the instructions below:
- thumbs should be wrapped with a soft gauze bandage or a thin towel;
- we place our hands so that the thumbs are on the chewing teeth of the victim and deep in the corners of his mouth. The remaining fingers fix the lower part of the jaw;
- Having placed the fingers correctly, we begin to slowly press on the support, thumbs down and, accordingly, the rest (located from the bottom of the jaw) up;
- after which we make a movement towards ourselves and up, a characteristic click should occur, which will indicate the successful completion of the manipulations.
Possible consequences
Having figured out how to adjust the jaw independently, it is worth focusing on the fact that in most patients, at the time of completion of the procedure, the jaw joint closes involuntarily. And if you do not have time to remove your fingers in time, you can get a new serious injury. All these actions lead the temporomandibular joint to normal, but in some cases you should not even think about how to adjust the jaw at home.
Further symptoms
In addition to changes in the bite, difficulties in closing the mouth and pain, there are a number of additional symptoms that do not occur in all, but very serious ones. These include swelling in the submandibular zone, bleeding in the oral cavity, severe salivation, pronounced pain in this area, blueness, the impossibility of a clear pronunciation of words, or a complete lack of speech. In such situations, thinking about how to straighten the jaw itself is not worth it. If the pain is very strong, the dislocation should be corrected as soon as possible. Further symptoms may include impaired visual function, increased bleeding, and impaired consciousness. The pain can go down, cause vasospasm and, as a result, oxygen starvation. It must be remembered that a mild subluxation with improper treatment can easily become a serious dislocation. In such situations, the main thing is not only to provide first aid to the victim correctly, but also to identify the cause of the injury. This will get rid of a similar problem in the future.
Who can help in such cases
Where to set the jaw in such situations? It is best to go to the dentist surgeon. You can contact a facial surgeon. If none are available nearby, an ordinary surgeon or traumatologist will help.
On one reduction of the joint, the treatment of the jaw does not end. To avoid relapse at the end of the second week, a special dressing should be applied. For a while you will have to refuse to take any solid food.
First aid
If after an injury, accident or other incident there is no one around who knows how to straighten the jaw, you should clearly fix it in one position and carefully deliver the victim to the nearest medical facility. Here the patient will undergo a full comprehensive examination to identify all possible causes of injury. This is crucial for proper follow-up treatment and quick recovery. Surgical intervention is not excluded.
With a chronic dislocation, the doctor also decides how to straighten the jaw. Usually this problem is eliminated with the help of orthopedic constructions. Such tires (removable or non-removable) limit the jaw in motion. They do not allow her to move until the ligaments return to their normal shape and become shorter. With such a device, the patient will have to walk from three weeks to a month. Premature removal will lead to relapse, the jaw will shift again and exit the temporal cavity. Another option was also considered - the deepening of the temporal fossa, but it was ineffective, and such operations ceased to be carried out.
After the dislocation is repaired, edema and pain remain for several days. You can get rid of discomfort with the help of non-steroidal painkillers. These drugs are not recommended for use for more than two days, as they aggressively affect the stomach and digestive area. If the patient suffers from erosive gastritis or peptic ulcer, it is better to replace the painkiller with anesthetics. If the cause of the dislocation is the incorrect structure of the dentition, the dentist will help. With the help of the necessary prosthetics, he will correct the bite, install special dressings and orthopedic devices. The complexity of the situation depends on how long the treatment will be. In any case, it leads to good results and an improvement in the appearance of the patient.