While doing a routine deep cleaning of teeth during my clinical practice, the patient’s lower jaw suddenly dislocated, then smoothly popped back into place!
The patient calmly said, “This happens often, it’ll go back on its own.” And it did!
This kind of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation can happen in some individuals with jaw joint laxity, especially during wide mouth opening.
Jaw joint laxity refers to looseness or hypermobility of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)- the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull.
It might look scary, but in many cases, it corrects itself and it is nothing to panic about. I’m sharing this not to scare you, but to remind you that such things can happen and are usually manageable with care.
Did you know such jaw dislocations can happen even during a simple dental cleaning? Have you ever experienced it? Share your thoughts!