Broken Jaw Emergency
Emergency dental services in Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ
Wondering what to do with a possible broken jaw? At Princess Center Dentistry, we’ve treated thousands of patients with dental emergencies. Dr. Andrews will not only help you resolve the pain and discomfort of a dental emergency but will also follow up with you afterward to assure the best results.
We’ve created this guide to help you understand what precautions to take to assure safe and expedient treatment when you arrive at our office.
Call us today for your dental emergency.
My jaw Hurts. Is it Broken?
Is it broken if you have fallen or experienced another injury to your jaw?
Without medical care, you cannot confirm a broken or fractured jaw. However, you can use the following checklist to assess the possibility of a broken jaw:
- Are your teeth not lining up? Yes 🗹 No 🗹
- Are you having challenges opening your mouth? Yes 🗹 No 🗹
- Are you having challenges speaking? Yes 🗹 No 🗹
- Are you experiencing numbness in your lower lip? Yes 🗹 No 🗹
- Are you experiencing numbness in your chin? Yes 🗹 No 🗹
- Are you drooling? Yes 🗹 No 🗹
If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions after an injury to your jaw, you have the possibility of having a broken jaw.
In addition, if you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you need to move forward with first aid steps by assuming your jaw is broken until a medical professional tells you it is or is not broken.
So, you have determined that you have a suspected broken jaw; what steps should you follow for first aid? Let’s take a look . . .
A Possible Broken Jaw and What to Do for First Aid
Here are the steps to take for a possible broken jaw:
Checklist: Review the list to determine if you have a suspected broken jaw.
- Assess breathing: If the jaw is broken, it can cause the tongue to block your airways. If this happens, call 911 for immediate medical assistance. Understandably, if you are experiencing a breathing issue because of an obstructed airway, you will need a friend or family member to call 911.
- Call hospital: Call your local hospital and ask if they have an oral surgeon on call. You want to be seen by an oral surgeon.
- Use ice: Get a towel and place ice in it. Wrap ice into the towel and then hold it on your jaw. This will help with swelling.
- Use gauze: If you are bleeding, use gauze or a clean cloth for bleeding
- Go to the hospital: Go to a hospital with an oral surgeon and be examined and treated for your injury.
- Dentist: Be sure to alert your dentist of what is happening with your jaw and make an emergency dental appointment so that once you have been discharged from the hospital, a dentist can assess and treat your gums and teeth. Often, jaw injuries can lead to loose, chipped, or broken teeth.
Emergency Treatments
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