Fracture – HealthWasp https://healthwasp.com Information about health and clinical conditions Fri, 29 Mar 2019 14:48:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.15 https://healthwasp.com/wp-content/uploads/logo3.gif Fracture – HealthWasp https://healthwasp.com 32 32 Broken Jaw https://healthwasp.com/broken-jaw/ Thu, 07 Feb 2019 02:49:52 +0000 https://healthwasp.com/?p=186 A broken jaw, also called a mandibular fracture, is a common facial injury. It usually occurs because of a traumatic blow to the head, and is often associated with other facial trauma, like a broken nose (the only facial injury to occur more frequently than a broken jaw). About 40% of patients who suffer a […]

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A broken jaw, also called a mandibular fracture, is a common facial injury. It usually occurs because of a traumatic blow to the head, and is often associated with other facial trauma, like a broken nose (the only facial injury to occur more frequently than a broken jaw). About 40% of patients who suffer a broken jaw also have injuries to the neck, head, nose, and eyes. Over half of jawbone fractures occur on only one side of the jaw.

Symptoms

Symptoms will start to develop directly following some kind of trauma to the jaw. Obviously your jaw will be in severe pain. You may feel malocclusion, which is when your teeth do not fit together properly. You may have problems chewing food or speaking, and may be unable to open your jaw fully. You may also see swelling. Sometimes a broken jaw can cause nerve damage, which causes the lower lip or chin to be numb. This can lead to drooling and the inability to control the mouth and jaw. Inside the mouth there may be bleeding or bruising under the tongue. If the jawbone moves backward, there may even be a cut in the ear canal. A broken jaw also makes it very difficult to eat. Thus, you may lose weight, experience fatigue, and have a general feeling of weakness.

Causes

The common cause of a broken jaw is an injury to the face. This may happen from an assault or fight (getting punched in the jaw), from a motor vehicle accident, an industrial accident, or a sports injury. The majority of broken jaws occur in young adult males between the ages of 20 and 30. They can also be caused by an accidental fall, especially in adults who faint or in young children.

Prevention

The best way to prevent a broken jaw is to protect your face from injury. This requires wearing proper equipment when playing sports, such as a helmet when playing hockey or football and a face shield when playing basketball. This includes wearing a mouth guard during contact sports. They not only protect your teeth but also help protect against jaw fractures. It is also important to respect your opponents. Try to avoid hitting people in the face with your arm or shoulder, especially when playing hockey or football. Wearing the proper equipment and protecting yourself and others is the best way to prevent facial injuries such as a broken jaw. It is also important to wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses when driving. Buckling up correctly can help prevent facial injuries caused by dashboard impacts and other debris during car accidents. You also want to try and avoid fighting or physical conflicts, as a punch to your jaw could break it.

Treatment

If you think you may have broken your jaw, it is important to apply ice immediately. This will help control the swelling and numb the area, hopefully reducing the pain.

 You may also need a paper cup to spit blood into or catch drool. You will need to go to the ER to get immediate attention. The doctor will treat your broken jaw by repairing the break with fine screws and metal plates, or by realigning the fractured pieces of bone with wires. If any teeth were loosened or lost, or if fragments of bone have cut the skin, the doctor will most likely give you a prescription for an antibiotic to reduce pain and the risk of infection. The doctor will also give you a dietary plan to follow for a few weeks before your jaw heals enough to the point that you can eat solid foods again. In some instances, you may need surgery. MedlinePlus, which is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, has more information about treatment options.

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]]> Impacted Tooth https://healthwasp.com/impacted-tooth/ Thu, 07 Feb 2019 02:44:40 +0000 https://healthwasp.com/?p=172 An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not emerge into the dental arch in the usual time frame. Unless the impacted tooth is extracted surgically, it will remain impacted throughout the person’s lifetime. A tooth may become impacted because of excessive soft tissue, adjacent teeth, a genetic abnormality or a dense overlying bone. If […]

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An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not emerge into the dental arch in the usual time frame. Unless the impacted tooth is extracted surgically, it will remain impacted throughout the person’s lifetime. A tooth may become impacted because of excessive soft tissue, adjacent teeth, a genetic abnormality or a dense overlying bone. If left in the mouth, some impacted teeth can become infected or damage neighboring teeth, leading to numerous oral problems. 9/10 people have at least one wisdom tooth that is impacted.

Symptoms

An impacted tooth can lead to all sorts of symptoms that impact oral hygiene. It can create swelling and redness of the gums in the area around the impacted tooth, and can cause bad breath. An impacted tooth may make it difficult for you to open your mouth. It can create a prolonged and explained jaw ache or headache. It can also cause tenderness or pain of the jaw bone or gums, especially in the area of the impacted tooth. Occasionally the lymph nodes of the neck may swell up, and biting down near or on the area of the impacted tooth might cause an unpleasant taste. There may also be a visible gap in the spot where the tooth did not come through.

Causes

Teeth begin to emerge and pass through the gums during infancy. These are considered baby teeth, and are eventually replaced by permanent teeth. In either case, if a tooth does not emerge, it is called “impacted”. Of all the teeth, it’s usually the wisdom teeth which in turn become impacted, though others can as well. Impacted teeth can be caused in numerous ways. Sometimes the area is overcrowded, and there is no spot for a tooth to come through. For example, the jaw might be too tiny to fit a wisdom tooth. As a tooth tries to emerge, it may become tilted, twisted, or displaced, and unable to come through the gum tissue. This can also result in an impacted tooth. Sometimes a tooth becomes partially emerged, but does not come all the way through. This partially emerged tooth can ensnare plaque, food, and other waste, causing tenderness and inflammation of the gums to occur. This condition is called pericoronitis. Pericoronitis also causes unpleasant mouth odor.

Prevention

Unfortunately, an impacted tooth cannot be prevented. Impacted teeth are very common however, and can be taken care of or removed easily. If the tooth is partially emerged, performing good oral hygiene can help keep the tooth clean and prevent cavities.

Treatment

There are two different ways to deal with an impacted tooth. The first way is through treatment.

 An impacted tooth may cause minor irritation, which can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. It can also be treated by rinsing with warm salt water. Placing a half teaspoon of salt into a cup of water and rinsing can help reduce irritation and inflammation. If an impacted tooth becomes infected, continues to generate pain, or hampers other teeth, even after using salt water or pain relievers, it can be removed by a dentist or oral surgeon. Removing an impacted tooth is a fairly simple procedure that takes around 30 minutes to an hour depending on the severity of the impaction and location of the tooth. Dentists or oral surgeons may use sedation techniques or anesthesia to make sure you are comfortable, although this is not always necessary. During the procedure, your oral surgeon or dentist will make a cut in your gums before removing any bone that limits access to the tooth. They then remove the tooth and close the wound with stitches and pack it with gauze. Following the surgery, your cheeks and jaw may be swollen and you have may have difficulty eating some foods. You will be given multiple gauze pads to change out the gauze and will probably be given prescription pain-killing medication. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has more information about impacted teeth.

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