Restricted Opening (Locked Jaw)

A locked jaw of 1 finger opening is an emergency referral to Orofacial Pain Specialist due hope of recapture my quick management of chewing system orthopedic team.

We take for granted, the ability to open your mouth all the way! When a RESTRICTED OPENING  OR  LOCKED JAW suddenly occurs, it can be quite alarming and painful. At Raleigh Facial Pain Center, we see LOCKED JAW quite often and we want to help. The restricted opening  is an emergency situation and requires "urgent" referral to Orofacial Pain Specialist; in order, to have any chance at recapturing the disc and return normal opening.

Restricted Jaw

Where Does the Restricted Jaw Opening Come From?

The restricted opening (RO) issue is a completely displaced disc in the Temporomandibular Joint. The displaced disc is caused by progressive tearing of lateral ligament of disc to jaw joint.  The tearing number of factors, including:

  • Opening Locking
  • Tension muscles
  • Clenching, Grinding, Muscle Bracing
  • Traumas. Blows, Falls
  • Dual bites and malocclusion
  • Anxiety couples to pain system

Restricted jaw opening (RO):                                                                                                                                                          1) One finger opening,                                                                                                                                                                     2) Deviation to side locked,                                                                                                                                                           3) Side to side movement not equal                                                                                                                                              4) Pain on chewing or opening wide  

RESTRICTED OPENING:  impacts your:  eating,    social,   nutrition,   disposition,    health

The disc inside the jaw joint:                                                                                                                                                        1) tethered by ligaments, like bucket handles                                                                                                                         2) Tension & clench / grind contracts Lateral Pterygoid & trauma                                                                                       3) Lateral Pterygoid pulls on lateral ligament                                                                                                                         4) Stretching then tearing  the outside bucket handle                                                                                                            5) Micro-tearing over prolonged periods of time                                                                                                                     6) Disc rectangular shaped donut                                                                                                                                            7) Until disc is displaced in front of condyle                                                                                                                           8) Condyle can't jump back up onto disc                                                                                                                               9) Pushing disc forward & up against skull behind sinus  

Do you want to stop this progressive disease?          Do you want to open wide, again ?

Don’t wait for the discal tissues of TMD change  from a biconcave shape (normal) to blob of fibrocartilage. Once a displace disc is displaced long enough, it will make your jaw permanently restricted! A restricted opening is not rare, it will occur in 1 out of 100 people but to differing degrees, duration, and severity.  If you seek immediate care at Orofacial pain specialist, you have the potential to recapture the disc. Recapture means normal opening, but there is still need to reduce the three main causes and set up maximum healing. 

FACTS:                                                                                                                                                                                         1) Restricted opening is joint muscle ligament issue of chewing system                                                                                 2) Requires a specialist trained in chewing system orthopedics (CSO)                                                                                  3) Orthopedic Team (Bio, PT, OFP, patient)                                                                                                                            4) Orthotic (highly accurate, design, material) use in conjunction CSO

Conquer your lock jaw issues with the chewing system orthopedic team. The team leader and scientific coach is                    1) Dr. Keith A. Yount, orofacial pain specialist                                                                                                                         2) Chewing system orthopedic team includes Patient, Physical therapist, Biofeedback                                                                                                                                    3) Caring professionals at Raleigh Facial Pain Center team

Surprising Choices: In presence of mouth that will not open properly eat, would you let an insurance companies bias or greed get in way of your ability to be healthy. Yet, the choice to not seek treatment for restricted opening knowing that recapture is emergency situation, occurs every day. People do not feel need to invest in their health because they have to buy 35,000 car or 500,000 house. You can't eat with your car? 

Reach out online or by phone at (919) 781-6600 and we’ll be happy to help you find relief for your jaw pain!

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