Diagnosis of lockjaw
The diagnosis of a lockjaw is often confused with the symptoms of a lockjaw, which is why it is not easy to make. In the dental practice, the lockjaw is detected by its clinical appearance.The cause of the lockjaw is determined by a detailed general anamnesis. X-ray diagnostics or DVT in the case of fractures or temporomandibular joint dislocations can also provide information and help with the diagnosis.
Associated symptoms of lockjaw
Accompanying to the open mouth, since the jaw closure is impaired by the lockjaw, quite different concomitant symptoms accompany. The attempt of the affected person to introduce the jaw lock with force usually causes severe pain. The pain of the musculature is primarily predominant. Speaking and food intake are greatly impeded by the open jaw. If the affected person tries to move, it can lead to a cracking of the jaw joint and severe pain.
How do you release a lockjaw?
The symptoms of a lockjaw, the inability to close the jaw, can be alleviated by eliminating the cause. If the cause is a wear and tear disease, a temporomandibular joint arthrosis, the lockjaw disappears immediately after surgery. In the case of a dislocation of the head of the temporomandibular joint, the treatment of choice is the Hippocrates – handle, in which the lower jaw is returned to the joint path.
Experienced patients, who have had this symptomatology more often, usually master the Hippocrates handle themselves and can use it. But in principle, this should be left to the dentist. After the temporomandibular condyle has been repositioned, the jaw lock has also disappeared and the jaw closure can be performed without any problems.
If jaw fractures are the cause of a lockjaw, the fractures must first be surgically fixed, since they are an obstacle to function and the malposition of the bone pieces prevent the jaw from closing. After fixation with titanium screws or plates, the jaw can be closed perfectly again immediately after surgery. Exercises in the case of a lockjaw are relatively limited.
The patient himself cannot or can hardly restore the jaw closure by exertion of force or similar. If the lockjaw is caused by the temporomandibular joint head jumping out, it can be released by a special handle, the Hippocrates handle. However, this handle can only be properly executed in an experienced state, which is why the dentist should release the blockage.
The patient is only able to loosen the muscles and release tensions by circular, slightly pressureful massage movements of the hands. There is a cause, the dislocation, where the patient himself can loosen the jaw blockage with a little practice. In the case of dislocation, the head of the jaw joint has jumped out of the joint pit outside the normal joint path and cannot find its way back on its own.
Therefore, the jaw can no longer be closed. In this case, there is the so-called Hippocrates handle to reverse the dislocation. The affected person moves the lower jaw with some pressure downwards and forward combined, so that the joint head is back in the original joint path.
Therapeutically, the dentist would use exactly the same treatment to reposition the joint head. However, it is important to be careful not to pull the lower jaw with too much force, so as not to injure it. If you have no experience, you should go to the dentist and not perform this procedure yourself to avoid negative complications.
