Jaw conditions include any disorder or disease that affects the health or the normal functioning of the jaw. There are a large variety of underlying causes of jaw conditions. These include infection, malignancy, trauma, inflammation, genetic diseases and disorders, birth defects, and other abnormal processes.
Jaw conditions include jaw fracture, temporomandibular joint disorders, dislocated jaw, jaw clenching, bruxism, malocclusion of the teeth, Impacted wisdom tooth, and poorly fitting dentures. Other types of jaw conditions include periodontal disease, tooth abscess, jawbone cancer, cleft palate and Abruzzo Erickson syndrome.
There are a large variety of symptoms of jaw conditions. Symptoms vary depending on the specific type of jaw disease, disorder, or condition. Common symptoms include jaw pain and difficulty chewing. There are also a variety of complications of jaw conditions. Some complications can be serious. For more details about complications and additional symptoms, see symptoms of jaw conditions.
Jaw conditions can occur in any age group or population. Cleft palate is a common birth defect in infants. Malocclusion of the teeth is a common cause of jaw problems in children and adults who have not had orthodontia correction. Impacted wisdom teeth, periodontal disease, and jaw clinching are common causes of jaw problems in middle aged adults. Poorly fitting dentures is a common cause of jaw problems in older adults and seniors.
Some jaw conditions, such as impacted wisdom teeth, can be quickly and successfully treated. However, some jaw conditions, such as jawbone cancer and advanced periodontal disease can be more difficult to treat and are treated most successfully when diagnosed in the earliest stages of the disease.
Diagnosing jaw conditions begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination that focuses on the jaw and mouth.
Some jaw conditions are diagnosed and treated by a dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon and/or periodontist. These conditions include tooth abscess, jaw clenching, bruxism, poorly fitting dentures, malocclusion, impacted wisdom tooth, and periodontal disease. Making a diagnosis includes performing an oral exam and dental X-Rays, which creates images of the teeth, mouth and jaw.
Diagnosing jaw fracture, jaw dislocation, and cleft palate also includes X-rays. Jawbone cancer is diagnosed with a test called a biopsy. In a biopsy a sample of cells or tissues are taken from the area of the jaw that may be cancerous. The sample is examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
A diagnosis of jaw conditions can be delayed or missed because there may not be symptoms in early stages of certain conditions, such as jawbone cancer and periodontal disease. In addition, some symptoms of certain jaw conditions are similar to symptoms of other diseases, disorders and conditions. For information on conditions and diseases can mimic jaw conditions, refer to misdiagnosis of jaw conditions.
Treatment of jaw conditions varies depending on the specific disease, disorder or condition. Some conditions can be quickly and successfully treated, while others may be more difficult to treat and have a poorer prognosis. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of jaw conditions. ...more »
Jaw conditions: Temporomandibular disorders are conditions in which the temporomandibular joint (the jaw) is damaged and/or the muscles used for chewing and ... more about Jaw conditions.
Jaw conditions: Conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (the jaw). More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Jaw conditions is available below.
Symptoms of jaw conditions vary greatly in severity and nature. The nature of symptoms depends on the specific disease or disorder, the presence of complications, and other factors. Some people with certain jaw conditions, such as jawbone cancer and periodontal disease may have no symptoms in early stages of the disease.
Symptoms of jaw conditions commonly ...more symptoms »
The first step in treating jaw conditions is prevention. This includes seeking regular medical and dental care throughout the lifetime so that a licensed health care provider can evaluate symptoms, the risks of developing jaw conditions, and perform routine tests and screenings for such diseases as periodontal disease, impacted Wisdom teeth, and oral cancer, which ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of jaw conditions can be delayed or missed because in some cases, there are no symptoms in early stages of some conditions, such as in early periodontal disease. In other cases, symptoms of jaw conditions, including minor gum bleeding, may not be severe enough or last long enough for a person to seek medical care.
Symptoms of some type of ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 14 symptoms of Jaw conditions
See full list of 18 treatments for Jaw conditions
Read more about Deaths and Jaw conditions.
Read more about Types of Jaw conditions
See full list of 8 diagnostic tests for Jaw conditions
See full list of 7 causes of Jaw conditions
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The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Jaw conditions include:
See full list of 36 Clinical Trials for Jaw conditions
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Temporomandibular disorders are conditions in which the temporomandibular joint (the jaw) is damaged and/or the muscles used for chewing and talking become stressed, causing pain. The condition may be the result of a number of factors, such as an injury to the jaw or joint misalignment, and may give rise to a variety of symptoms, most commonly pain in the jaw, face, and/or neck muscles. Physicians reach a diagnosis by listening to the patient's description of the symptoms and by performing a simple examination of the facial muscles and the temporomandibular joint. (Source: excerpt from Pain -- Hope Through Research: NINDS)
TMD, or temporomandibular disorders, are a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles involved in chewing. These disorders occur more frequently in women than men, and it has been estimated that approximately 10 million women in the USA suffer from chronic face or jaw joint pain. There are many possible causes of these disorders, and diagnosis can be confusing and difficult. Treatment is usually conservative and reversible, and may require many different medical specialists. Occasionally injections and surgery are necessary for chronic pain and disability. (Source: excerpt from TMD-TMJ (Jaw Disorders): NWHIC)
Jaw conditions is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of
Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This means that Jaw conditions, or a subtype of Jaw conditions,
affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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