The lower jaw bone, known as the mandible is the main bone of the lower face, and is the second most broken bone in any facial injury sustained, the first being a broken nose.

The teen and young adult have habits which make them more prone to this injury rather than the older adult, and the commonest cause of a broken jaw are –

n  Injuries obtained during sports activities.

n  Falls resulting from skateboarding, rock climbing etc.

n  Teenage fights.

n  Motor vehicle accidents.

Males are three times as likely to suffer a broken jaw than females and are, primarily, in the late teen, early adult age group .

Signs of a Broken Jaw.

n  Much pain in the lower jaw and mouth will be experienced.

n  The person will have problems speaking, and the jaw will be swollen.

n  In the inner mouth, it will be felt that the teeth are not fitting together correctly (malocclusion).

n  Bruising of the tongue, and bleeding in the inner mouth.

n  Feelings of numbness around the chin and lower lip due to nerve damage in the lower jaw bone.

If such an injury is sustained, it is essential that a dentist specializing in oral injuries should be contacted as soon as possible. Since the resultant loss of support for the tongue can cause severe breathing difficulties.

Medical Treatment for a Broken Jaw.

It is possible that many people who suffer from jaw pain do not necessarily have a broken jaw, and will be treated with prescribed medicine and instructed to eat a soft diet. If following medical evaluation, the person has in fact got a broken jaw, the treatment will be given.

n  Many fractures of the jaw bone are associated with problems to the gums and gum tissue also, apart from the fracture itself. These will be treated with anti biotics.

n  The person will be given a Tetanus injection.

n  Medicines will be given to alleviate pain.

n  If the fracture to the lower jaw is stable, then the upper and lower teeth may be wired together to prevent excess movement while the fracture heals.

n  For unstable fractures, plate will be inserted across the site of the fracture by a dental surgeon, this operation should allow a little normal jaw movement.

Since the most common causes of jaw bone damage are motor vehicle accidents, assaults and sports activities, it is wise to select friends carefully, drive sensibly, and wear a mouth guard at sports time.

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