My jaw has hurt the past week, I can not close my teeth or chew or bite with out excrutiation pain so I'm sure I broke it, fractured it, dislocated it, SOMETHING. Who do I go to? Emergency room? doctor? dentist?
2007-03-14 15:12:59 · 12 answers · asked by ultcomics 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
I'd go to the dentist but if they are closed I'd probably go to the urgent care or emergency room.
2007-03-14 15:16:29 · answer #1 · answered by Your Mom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you know your jaw is broken? Did you have some kind of injury, or did it just start hurting? These are questions a doctor or dentist might ask. I suspect that you have TMJ, a temperomandibular joint problem, and that always does cause excruciating pain. It's more common than you think. Either a doctor or dentist can help. TMJ is often caused by teeth grinding or sometimes the result of stretching the joint by holding the mouth open while having dental work. It is a painful but not serious condition, and I'm certain you won't have to resort to jaw wiring as others have suggested. Your health care professional may prescribe a mouth guard to wear while you're sleeping if you are grinding your teeth. But make an appointment with either a doctor or dentist as soon as possible. There are strong pain killers that can relieve the worst of the pain. Usually, the wait in the ER can take hours as they always cater to the life-or-death emergencies first. And then they may just refer you on to your doctor or dentist anyway. Good luck!
2007-03-14 23:34:31 · answer #2 · answered by gldjns 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With out telling detail of what happened or when the pain started it's hard to say for any of us to tell you what to do for sure. If it's broken it'll hurt really bad and be really swollen. Dislocation is a possibility, or you might also have TMJ [temporomandibular joint]. I too have TMJ and the same thing happens to me at the same time...it also comes with headaches.
If you did something that might of broken it I'd worry, but if you didn't I'd go to your dr. or dentist which ever you prefer and can get into the soonest.
2007-03-14 23:05:30 · answer #3 · answered by swimmer4tc06 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it's time for a trip to the emergency room to me. If they find that it's work for a dentist, they'll tell you so.
2007-03-14 22:21:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to go to the emergency room. If it is broken then if left untreated it will heal improperly. More than likely if it is broken they will wire your mouth shut to allow the jaw to heal.
2007-03-14 22:17:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
emergency room - now!
you dont want the bones to fuse in the wrong position - as it is the doctors may have to re-break the bone to set it properly.
you will probably end up having wires set into the bone to help fuse them properly
2007-03-14 22:17:16 · answer #6 · answered by no_skank76 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you could either go to your doctor or the emergency room.
2007-03-14 22:35:57 · answer #7 · answered by slekitmouse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ER If it Dental related one can diagnose but cost higher.
2007-03-14 22:16:49 · answer #8 · answered by thresher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say go to the ER if you can't wait, or go see an oral surgeon if it will last til morning.
2007-03-14 22:17:50 · answer #9 · answered by momof2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can be evaluated by a maxillofacial surgeon.
2007-03-14 22:17:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋