Jaw disorders

Jaw problems are relatively common; these range from mild jaw clicking to more serious jaw locking and joint degeneration or traumatic damage.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are problems that affect the jaw joint. They often reduce movement, making eating and speaking difficult, and they can be painful. The pain of a TMJ disorder radiates out from the jaw joint and is felt in the temple, cheeks, lower jaw or in the ear.

About the jaw

The human jaw is an important part of the face. The upper jaw, known as the maxilla, is fixed in position and it holds the upper teeth. This is jointed with the lower jaw, or mandible, via the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

The movements made by the jaw are essential for chewing, eating, swallowing, speaking and for many facial expressions.

Mr Luke Cascarini specialises in surgery to treat common and rare disorders of the jaw and the temporomandibular joint:

• Jaw fractures caused by trauma
• Jaw dislocation caused by trauma
• Developmental abnormalities of the jaw (micrognathia, pronathism)
• Cancer of the mouth that spreads into the jawbone
• Cancers elsewhere in the body that spread to the jaw
• Problems with the jaw joint – temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ disorder)
• Osteonecrosis – when the bone in the jaw degenerates. This can be due to treatment with some drugs such as bisphosphonates (used to treat osteoporosis)
• Bruxism, unconscious jaw clenching and grinding – this can cause headache, earaches, facial pain, jaw tension and even migraines.