Stiff Jaw

A stiff jaw can occur because of many reasons, ranging from purely dental reasons to infection of the mandible bone. This condition can lead to many accompanying symptoms, like difficulty in opening of the mouth, which could disrupt a person's everyday routine. Furthermore, in cases of joint infection, it is best to treat the condition at the earliest, so as to prevent any further complications.

Causes

Pericoronitis
One of the most common causes of stiff jaw on one side is pericoronitis. This is a condition where there is inflammation of the flap covering the third molar which may be partially impacted. Inflammation around the third molar often leads to the presence of edema around the root tip. This in turn makes it difficult to open and close the mouth.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Problems with the temporomandibular joint can also lead to stiff jaw pain. Temporomandibular joint disorders can occur due to many reasons, like teeth grinding and other occlusion problems with the teeth. Sometimes, the joint itself may be infected, as is seen in cases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis of the jaw. TMJ disturbances often lead to symptoms like stiff jaw muscles, pain while mouth opening, etc.

Myositis
Myositis is a condition where there is inflammation of the muscles. Sometimes, this may happen to the muscles of mastication, especially the masseter muscle, which could lead to stiffness of the jaw and difficulty in mouth opening.

Tetanus
Tetanus is a condition where there is prolonged contraction of the skeletal muscle fibers. These symptoms are caused due to a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. As the infection progresses, one of the most common symptoms seen is muscle spasms of the jaw, leading to a condition called lockjaw.

Risus Sardonicus
Risus sardonicus is an abnormal sustained spasm of the facial muscles, which gives the appearance of grinning. This condition derives its name from the appearance of raised eyebrows and a grin, which often appears malevolent. This occurs due to tetanus and due to strychnine poisoning.

Symptoms

• Jaw pain, which may occur on only one side or may occur on both sides.
• There may be sounds like clicking or popping heard while opening and closing the mouth.
• Difficulty in opening of mouth, leading to limited mouth opening.
• Dental problems due to inability to take enough dental care.
• There may be radiating pain in the region, leading to referred ear pain.
• Visible spasms of the masseter muscle and clenching of the jaw.

Treatment

The treatment for stiff jaw will depend on the underlying cause that is responsible for this symptom. If the pain is due to wisdom teeth infection, then it is best to visit a dentist, so that he may prescribe some antibiotics to make the swelling recede. After that, you will most probably need to get the infected tooth extracted. In case of TMJ disorders, you will need to get the condition properly diagnosed and treated at the earliest, as any kind of joint degeneration could prove to be very painful and irreversible. Tetanus and other conditions that trigger muscle spasms involuntarily must be treated on an emergency basis.

This may be a very serious symptom which could point to a grave underlying disease. Hence, it shouldn't be taken lightly, and any kind of persistence in stiffness should be diagnosed and treated at the earliest.