Had filling 11 days ago, now cant open jaw very wide!

Ok about 11 days ago i got a filling redone on my lower tooth..yuck yuck.

Anyway i couldn't and still can't, open my mouth very far... so eating is a nightmare . I can't open my jaw enough to place anything more than one and a half of my fingers in it. So eating stuff is a little tricky and painful (on the side of the jaw i got my filling). Cant even yawn [!]!

Now i know i wanted to lose weight but this is a bit ridiculous :rolleyes:

So my question is.. has anyone else had this experience and if so how long does it take to get back to normal!!!.

You're not up to date with your 5in1, are you?!!! [}]

I have jaw issues with the dentist too, so that if I have to be having work done which is going to take more than the usual clean and check time, my dentist puts a block in so I don't have to hold my mouth open, or I have a soreness which causes a similar problem. Eleven days though seems quite a long time.

Hi Jan,

what a nightmare. I haven't experienced anyhing like this but I wonder where the pain is? Is the tooth painful or - if you had an injection - could the dentist have hit your nerve when injecting the anaesthetic?

Isla yes i have been a bit slack with my 5in1 LOL!

Well the pain isnt my tooth its actually the jaw where the upper and lower bits meet. Actually kind of more below the ear. Doesnt feel like a nerve thing though. I'm wondering if you can sprain your jaw??

But what was odd is that when he gave me the jab it really hurt like hell. Far more than other jabs in the jaw that i've had, so maybe that has something to do with it. Or because it was numb on that side maybe i just held it open for to long...

I suspect an infection? Better go back to the dentist and get them to investigate. I've never heard of anyone having that much pain after a filling. There must be something not quite right. Ow.

I'd agree about getting back to the Dentist. It sounds as though you have a problem with the hinge joint where you are indicating. You know how you sometimes hear people's jaws make a cracking noise when they open their mouths wide - that is the same joint. I know a wee bit about this as one of my girl's has a problem there - no cartilidge? - and surgery has been mentioned but she is not going there at this stage.

Not saying your dentist has done anything wrong but should know what to look for and suggest further treatment for it. I certainly think 11 days is far too long to be unable to open your jaw propertly. If not the Dentist - then your Doctor.

I too would be going back - that is an unusual amount of pain. Yout must be a very stoic person, I'd have been back demanding pain killers or something by Day 2!

A few years ago, while goiing through a very stressful time at work, I woke up one morning in agony with a sore jaw, could hardly open my mouth. By coincidence I was going to the chiropractor, he had a look, did some pressure point massage on my jaw (outside and inside, gloved hand I might add). It is possible to strain your jaw - I had been grinding my teeth in my sleep and sort of locked it in place, similar to pain I've had when I've cricked my neck..

However, because you've had a procedure, I'd be going back. The dentist could have hit a nerve, or it coud be some kind of secondary infection - it wouldn't be possible for you to tell, so I'd be getting someone professional to take a look.

Hi Jan,

if it hurts where you got the injection then I'd say it is VERY likely that the dentist hit a nerve.

I had that once - when I had blood taken. The nurse hit a nerve and it was excruciating pain. She was a hospital blood taking nurse and she said it had never happened to her in so-and-so many decades of taking bloods. That arm hurt for weeks but the pain started to get less after only a few seconds - after she'd taken the needle out. But that lingering pain remained for a long time.

I'd go back to the dentist, too.

Not normal. Suggest contact with dentist immediately they open this morning.

Is your jaw fully shut or about a 1/2in gap??? you may have semi dislocated your TMJ joint on that side, which can happen with a yawn or a visit to the dentist.. if it closes fully then try warmth for 5mins then push your lower jaw forward then open and see if that helps.. sometimes the tendons can go into spasm and sortta cross themselves.. but yes over a week is a bit long

beedee;280380 wrote: Is your jaw fully shut or about a 1/2in gap??? you may have semi dislocated your TMJ joint on that side, which can happen with a yawn or a visit to the dentist.. if it closes fully then try warmth for 5mins then push your lower jaw forward then open and see if that helps.. sometimes the tendons can go into spasm and sortta cross themselves.. but yes over a week is a bit long

I had that after I'd been on a diving holiday once and it lasted quite a while, several months. I'd been clenching my teeth too hard and the muscles had gone into spasm. It can also be quite painful, but definately get it checked out either at the dentist or docs.

I live with this, TMJ displacement. It hurts like hell when you yawn and if you eat anything the slightest bit taxing on the jaw, it also hurts and it gets tired so eating just gets too tiring.

If the dentist had your mouth open for a long time or forced it open more than it should open, it could have had an effect on the joint.

I was told this is the most used joint in the body and the weakest.
For all you people out there who love a good bit of crackling.... take it easy.

I'd go back to the dentist or Dr and have a word cos it's not a nice or easy thing to live with.

DiDi, I had the operation and honestly, it was a piece of cake. It didn't hurt much as long as I did what I was told and not eat hard food for a while and yes, that got to be pretty boring and you wouldn't believe the amount of ads for food you can't eat that are screened on TV! I was almost tempted to buy some fish and chips and put them through a blender.... baby food and more baby food, which I also might add seem to have a very large pea content... everything tasted like peas. The success of the operation lasted 19 years, 10 years longer than it was supposed to.

Jan, avoid anything like steak until you get things sorted. If you have to stick with thick soups and mouleed stuff then do it, it's better than wrecking the joint permanantly.

I'm supposed to be on a waiting list to have my jaw looked at again but I haven't heard anything for months. In the meantime it's valium when it gets bad and don't get so cold I clench my jaw.

The only good side is, when it's bad, I can't scoff chocolate, I have to suck on bits.... lots of bits but chewing is not always an option.... mind you, a gob full of slowly melting chocolate is not a bad thing.:rolleyes:[]

Yakut

My sister had her jaw dislocated during a wisdom tooth removal (under general). Some years later she developed a locked jaw like you describe. She had to slowly ease it open with tongue depressors - adding a new one everyday.

I have damage to the left jaw joint from a playground accident in primary school, and I once had an osteopath realign it, as PG describes.

Meanwhile, I recommend continuing with the chocolate therapy..

Yes get it checked a friend had her jaw broken and didn't even relize it... she had a very thin area of jaw due to impacted wisdom tooth broke eating a cracker!!! she couldn't open jaw.... had to have surgry... NOT normal something is up

Righto appointment made with the dentist...just have to wait and see what he says.