05 Jun I have jaw pain after a fall…What should I do?
Falls are among the most common causes of facial fractures that may require a surgical intervention to repair. If you have lingering pain in your jaw after a fall, you should be evaluated by an oral surgeon to determine the most appropriate treatment.
After your injury, it’s important to consult with a jaw surgeon promptly. If you delay seeking treatment, complications can develop, requiring more involved interventions to correct the problem.
The nature of your injury will determine what type of treatment or jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, is necessary. A simple fracture may be addressed differently than a complex issue that may require the jaw to be re-set.
Jaw surgery may be performed in a few hours in an outpatient setting, or it may require a procedure that is several hours long and completed in a specialty surgical setting or hospital. This aspect of the treatment also will be determined by the nature of your injury, and your surgeon will provide more information about this part of treatment.
Your oral surgeon will thoroughly discuss the treatment with you and educate you on the procedure in addition to giving you adequate pre-operative and post-operative instructions. For example, if you are having intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, you likely will be told to fast after midnight prior to the procedure.
Before the surgery, be sure that you understand what to expect during your recovery, too. Ask the surgeon if you will need to make any adjustments to your diet or your daily routine, and be aware of the symptoms that indicate a post-operative issue that warrants follow-up, like an infection or persistent bleeding.
Jaw pain following a fall can indicate a serious injury that could negatively affect your ability to chew or speak normally or possibly even alter your breathing structure in certain scenarios. A jaw fracture also can detract from your smile’s appearance if it doesn’t heal properly.
If you are experiencing jaw pain after a fall, call our office to consult with our expert surgical team and get started on the path back to a healthy, pain-free smile.