The mandible is your lower jaw. It is the only bone in the face that moves. It has the shape of a horseshoe. Like any ring, it often breaks in a second place when it breaks in one place. So surgeons always check the whole jaw.
How it happens
The usual causes are falls, sport, assaults, and road accidents. The common signs are:
- Pain when you bite.
- A bite that suddenly feels wrong.
- A numb feeling in the lower lip.
- A gap or a step between the teeth.
- Difficulty when you open the mouth.
How surgeons treat it
- A small, stable fracture can heal with a soft diet and close checks. It may not need surgery.
- A fracture that has moved usually needs small titaniumA strong, light metal. Surgeons use it for the plates and screws that hold bone. plates and screws. The surgeon reaches it from inside the mouth, so there is no scar on the face.
- The bite is the guide. The goal is to make your teeth meet again as they did before.
Most people eat soft food for a few weeks while the bone heals.