How do I know if my jaw is fractured?
The common signs are pain on moving the jaw, a bite that suddenly feels wrong or does not meet properly, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, swelling and bruising, numbness of the lip or chin, bleeding from the gums between teeth, loose or displaced teeth, or a visible change in facial shape. A jaw fracture can only be confirmed with clinical examination and imaging — it needs to be seen urgently, not watched at home.
Injuries that are treated
- Lower jaw (mandible) fractures — the most common facial fracture, often at more than one site at once
- Upper jaw (maxilla) fractures
- Cheekbone (zygoma) and orbital rim injuries
- Dento-alveolar injuries — fractures of the tooth-bearing bone, with loosened, displaced, broken or knocked-out teeth
- Soft-tissue injuries of the lip, cheek and gum accompanying the above
Not every facial injury is a fracture, and not every fracture is treated the same way — some are managed without surgery. Assessment is what separates the two.
What to do immediately after an injury
Before you reach a clinic:
- Control bleeding with firm, clean pressure; apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
- Support the lower jaw and avoid moving it or trying to force your bite together
- Stay on liquids — do not attempt to chew
- If a permanent tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown, not the root. Do not scrub it. Keep it in milk, or in the patient's own saliva, and get to a dentist immediately — time is the single biggest factor in whether it can be saved.
Seek emergency medical care first — ahead of any dental appointment — if there is loss of consciousness, confusion, repeated vomiting, double or reduced vision, clear fluid from the nose or ear, difficulty breathing, or bleeding that will not stop. Head and eye injuries take priority over the jaw.
How the injury is assessed
Assessment covers both the bone and what sits on it:
- Examination of facial symmetry, jaw movement, mouth opening and any step or irregularity along the bone
- Checking how your teeth meet — a changed bite is one of the most reliable indicators of a displaced fracture
- Testing sensation in the lip and chin, since nerve involvement changes the plan
- Imaging — X-rays, and CT where the injury or its pattern requires it
- Assessment of every injured tooth, which may need its own treatment alongside the fracture
How facial fractures are treated
The principle is simple even when the surgery is not: bring the broken segments back to their correct position, hold them there while bone heals, and restore the bite you had before.
- Undisplaced, stable fractures may be managed conservatively — a soft diet, restricted jaw movement and close review.
- Displaced fractures require the segments to be repositioned and fixed. Fixation may be achieved by securing the jaws in the correct relationship while healing occurs, or by internal fixation with small titanium plates and screws placed at surgery.
- Associated dental injuries — splinting loose teeth, re-implanting a knocked-out tooth where viable, root canal treatment for a damaged nerve, or later replacement with a dental implant or crown if a tooth cannot be saved.
Where an injury involves other structures or needs hospital facilities, care is coordinated with the appropriate specialists rather than attempted in isolation.
Healing and recovery
Facial bone generally takes several weeks to unite, with the exact period depending on the fracture and on you. During recovery expect a modified diet — liquid, then soft, then normal as advised — and meticulous mouth hygiene, which becomes both more important and harder than usual. Swelling and bruising settle over the first one to two weeks.
Reviews check that the bones are healing in position and, critically, that your bite is settling correctly. Some altered lip or chin sensation is common after certain fractures and usually improves gradually, though recovery is not guaranteed and varies between patients. Return to contact sport should only happen on clinical advice.
What influences cost
Cost is driven by the type and number of fractures, whether treatment is conservative or surgical, the fixation method used, imaging required, anaesthesia, any hospital component, and treatment needed for injured teeth. Because these injuries arrive as emergencies, the priority is stabilising you first; a clear written estimate follows as soon as the assessment is complete. Where the case is better managed in a hospital setting, that is said plainly.
Frequently asked questions
My jaw hurts after a fall but I can still open my mouth. Is it broken?
Possibly not, but it cannot be ruled out on movement alone. Pay attention to whether your bite feels different, whether there is numbness of the lip or chin, and whether swelling is worsening. Any of those needs prompt examination and imaging.
Will my jaw be wired shut?
Not always. Some fractures are treated with internal fixation using plates and screws, which often avoids or shortens the need to immobilise the jaws. The method depends on the fracture pattern, and is discussed with you before treatment.
Can a knocked-out tooth be put back?
Often yes, if you act fast. Hold it by the crown, keep it moist in milk or saliva, do not scrub the root, and get to a dentist immediately. The chance of success falls sharply with every passing hour.
How long before I can eat normally again?
Most patients progress from liquids to a soft diet over the early weeks and return to normal eating once healing is confirmed. Your exact timeline is set at review, not in advance.
Will my face look the same afterwards?
The aim of repositioning and fixing the bones accurately is to restore your previous facial contour and bite. Outcomes depend on the injury, how soon it was treated and individual healing, so no specific cosmetic result can be guaranteed.
Do plates and screws need to be removed later?
Usually not — titanium fixation is generally left in place. Removal is considered only if there is a specific reason, such as infection, discomfort or exposure, and is discussed if it arises.