Mandibular Dislocation

These dislocations usually occur during maximum opening, such as yawning, or sometimes without any clear cause. The mandibular condyles can no longer return into the glenoid fossa, often due to an absent or significantly worn articular eminence, so there is no anatomical stop to prevent the jaw from dislocating.

When there are lower jaw problems, patients commonly report the following symptoms:

• Jaw clicking.
• Jaw locking.
• Jaw deviation when opening.
• Fatigue when chewing.
• Ear pain with no findings on ENT evaluation.
• Headache.
• Neck pain.

These symptoms are common and there are adequate treatment options, whether conservative or surgical, to correct these problems.

Book an appointment

Jaw pain may be related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, inflammation, muscle overload, or infection. A proper evaluation helps define the most appropriate treatment plan (conservative or surgical).

Temporomandibular joint prostheses are the last resort to reconstruct or replace a TMJ. They can be indicated in cases such as non-treatable condylar fractures, condylar resorption or absence, and severe degenerative arthrosis. In the case shown, bilateral prostheses are placed together with orthognathic surgery, since the patient presented a severe skeletal Class II pattern, mandibular retrognathia, airway obstruction, and degenerative condylar arthrosis.