Broken jaw: symptoms, when it is an emergency, and how it is treated

MedlinePlus writes that the most common cause of a broken jaw is a blow to the face, which can happen in an assault, an accident at work, a road traffic accident, an injury during sport or recreation, a fall or a trip; less often it can also follow a dental or medical procedure. Cochrane's review of the treatment of lower jaw fractures also states that these fractures are common and usually linked to violence or road traffic accidents. In older people without teeth, however, the picture is different: in a 2026 meta-analysis of fractures of a thinned, toothless lower jaw, the most common cause was a fall (about 52 to 55 percent) and the area most often broken was the body of the jaw.

MedlinePlus lists the symptoms of a broken jaw as follows: pain in the face or jaw, in front of the ear or on the affected side, that gets worse with movement, bruising and swelling of the face, bleeding from the mouth, difficulty chewing, the teeth or jaw being out of line, jaw stiffness, not being able to open or close the mouth wide, the jaw moving to one side when the mouth is opened, tenderness that gets worse when biting or chewing, loose or damaged teeth, swelling or a change in shape in the cheek or jaw, numbness in the face, especially the lower lip, and earache. It matters that pain in front of the ear and earache are on the list: the head of the lower jaw's joint sits just in front of the ear, and a blow to the front of the chin can break this area.

The most meaningful observation you can make at home is how your teeth meet. Close your mouth slowly, without forcing it: do your teeth come together as they did before the blow, or does one side touch first, or has the gap between them changed? A change in the bite is one of the important signs of a fracture; MedlinePlus lists the teeth or jaw being out of line among the symptoms. The second observation is the lower lip and the skin of the chin: if one side is numb or tingling, make sure you tell the doctor. Patient information from Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that the nerve running through the middle of the lower jaw carries sensation to the lower lip, the chin and the lower teeth, and that this nerve can be injured during a fracture and cause numbness in the lip and chin.

Your teeth also affect where the fracture line will be. In a meta-analysis combining thirteen retrospective studies, people with a lower wisdom tooth had about a 2.6 times higher risk of a fracture of the angle of the jaw (the corner below the ear) and a lower risk of a fracture of the joint head. Pointing out that complications of joint head fractures can be more serious, the authors write that the decision to remove a wisdom tooth solely to reduce the risk of fracture should be made with care. This finding rests on observational studies and is not on its own a reason to have a wisdom tooth removed.

A broken jaw may not come on its own. The same blow can also affect the head and neck. After a head injury, the NHS says to call an ambulance straight away in situations such as loss of consciousness, being unable to stay awake, a seizure, problems with vision or hearing, clear fluid coming from the ear or nose, bleeding from the ear or bruising behind the ear, new numbness or weakness anywhere in the body, a fall from higher than 1 metre or 5 stairs, and a high-speed impact. In a study in Finland of 2919 patients with facial fractures, the rate of cervical spine injury was 3 percent; it was lower in those with only a lower jaw fracture, but the authors stress that every patient with a facial fracture is at risk of a neck injury.

MedlinePlus lists among the complications of a broken jaw blockage of the airway, bleeding, blood or food going into the lungs, temporary difficulty eating and speaking, infection of the jaw or face, jaw joint pain, numbness in part of the jaw or face, problems with the alignment of the teeth, and swelling. Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that untreated fractures can lead to difficulty eating and drinking, that fractures change the way the mouth opens and closes, and that treatment helps prevent problems such as infection, tooth decay and long-term arthritis in the joint.

A dislocated jaw, on the other hand, is a separate picture: the lower jaw coming out of the joint where it meets the skull. MedlinePlus writes that with a dislocation the mouth does not close, and it causes drooling, difficulty speaking, a bite that feels crooked and the jaw locking forward. Because a fracture and a dislocation can look alike, in both cases you should not try to put the jaw back yourself; MedlinePlus clearly forbids this. For the details of a dislocated jaw, see our page on it.

The first list is signs that raise the probability of a fracture after a blow and need assessment without waiting; with these, go straight to A&E or to an oral and maxillofacial surgery department. If there is an item from the second list, call 112.

The sequence deliberately starts with life-threatening situations; treatment of the bone is only planned once the airway, bleeding, head and neck have been made safe.

1. 1

   First aid and setting off

   MedlinePlus recommends supporting the jaw gently with the hands on the way to hospital, or passing a bandage under the jaw and over the top of the head; the bandage must be easy to remove in case of vomiting. Do not try to put the jaw back in place. If you have also taken a blow to the head, do not drive yourself.

2. 2

   Airway, bleeding, head and neck

   In A&E, breathing, bleeding and consciousness are assessed first; MedlinePlus writes that a tube can be placed in the airway if there is a breathing problem, heavy bleeding or severe swelling of the face. Depending on how the blow happened, the head and neck are also examined.

3. 3

   Examination and imaging

   The bite, mouth opening, sensation in the lip and chin, the teeth and tears inside the mouth are examined; an X-ray or a CT scan establishes how many fractures there are, where they are and whether they have moved out of place. Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that the treatment decision depends on the number and position of the fractures, and that not every fracture needs an operation.

4. 4

   Conservative treatment for minor fractures

   MedlinePlus writes that small fractures can heal on their own, with only painkillers and a soft or liquid diet for a while possibly needed. Hull University Teaching Hospitals states that some fractures can be treated without an operation using hooks bonded to the teeth or screws placed in the bone under local anaesthetic.

5. 5

   Operation: plates and screws

   Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that the operation is usually done under general anaesthetic, that the fracture line can be reached from inside the mouth through the gum or from outside through the skin, that difficult fractures around the jaw joint sometimes need a cut in the skin of the face, that the bones are put back in place and held with small titanium plates and screws, and that wires on the teeth or screws in the bone can be placed and elastic bands used to guide the bite into the right position. Antibiotics are given through a vein in hospital, and the stay is usually one night.

6. 6

   Wiring the jaw

   MedlinePlus writes that in moderate and severe fractures the jaw can be wired to the teeth of the opposite jaw, that the wires usually stay in for 6–8 weeks, and that after a few weeks some of the elastic bands are removed to reduce joint stiffness. During this period, only liquids or very soft food can be taken.

7. 7

   Follow-up and the dental side

   Once the fracture has healed, the wires, hooks and screws are removed in the outpatient clinic. Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that damaged or decayed teeth in the fracture line sometimes need to be removed during the operation. Replacing lost teeth is planned separately after the bone has healed.

Which method is chosen depends on the position and number of fractures, whether they have moved out of place, the condition of the teeth and the quality of the bone. The Cochrane review writes that studies comparing different fixation methods are few and small, and that the results should be interpreted with caution.

Below are the wrong decisions often seen after a blow, and what they cost.

Times vary with the position of the fracture and the treatment method. The sequence below is the description given by MedlinePlus and Hull University Teaching Hospitals; the plan of the surgeon who follows you up comes first.

1. The first days

   Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that after the operation the pain is more noticeable for the first few days and can take several weeks to go completely. Regular painkillers and antibiotics are given; rinsing with salt water starts the day after the operation.

2. The first 2 weeks

   Dissolving stitches can take 2 weeks or longer to fall out. Depending on your job, about 2 weeks off work and avoiding strenuous exercise may be needed.

3. About 6 weeks

   Hull University Teaching Hospitals writes that although the plates and screws hold the fracture, it takes about 6 weeks for the lower jaw to heal completely, and that a relatively soft diet is needed during this period. MedlinePlus states that with wiring, the wires usually stay in for 6–8 weeks.

4. 3 months and beyond

   A break of up to 3 months from sports with a high risk of facial injury may be needed. Numbness of the lower lip gets better on its own in most people, but can take several months, and in some patients it does not improve.

We do not give a single figure here, because treatment of a broken jaw ranges from simple observation to surgery in several stages. These are the items that determine the scope:

Number and position of the fractures

A single fracture that has not moved out of place and a fracture that is multiple or involves the joint head need very different treatment.

Treatment method

Fixation without an operation, open surgery with plates and screws, or strong plates in a toothless jaw.

Accompanying injuries

Injuries to the head, neck or other facial bones increase the length of the hospital stay and the need for imaging.

Repairing the teeth

Replacing broken or lost teeth afterwards needs separate planning.