Simple Steps To Better Dental Health
Search  
Help With Search
Help
space placeholder.space placeholder
Featuring consumer information from Columbia School of Dental & Oral Surgery
.
HomeFree E-mail
Oral Health Made Simple: Your Prescription For Knowledge
 PREVENT PROBLEMS
Small BoxAll About Cavities
Small BoxBrushing and Flossing
Small BoxFluoride
Small BoxMouth-Healthy Eating
Small BoxSealants
Small BoxTaking Care of Your Teeth
Small BoxTobacco
Small BoxYour Dental Visit
Small BoxMORE
 CONDITIONS
Small BoxBad Breath
Small BoxCavities
Small BoxCold Sores
Small BoxDry Mouth
Small BoxImpacted Tooth
Small BoxSensitive Teeth
Small BoxTMJ
Small BoxTooth Discoloration
Small BoxMORE
 TREATMENTS
Small BoxCrowns
Small BoxDentures
Small BoxFillings: The Basics
Small BoxGum Surgery
Small BoxImplants
Small BoxRoot Canal Treatment
Small BoxScaling and Root Planing
Small BoxWhitening
Small BoxMORE
 GENERAL TOPICS
Small BoxControlling Pain
Small BoxCosmetic Dentistry
Small BoxEmergencies
Small BoxFill, Repair, Replace
Small BoxKids And Teens
Small BoxOral Health and Your Body
Small BoxOrthodontics
Small BoxPeriodontics
Small BoxSeniors
Small BoxMORE
.
Step 1 Prevent ProblemsSimplestepsPrevent Problems
Step 2 Understand ConditionsSimplestepsUnderstand Conditions
Step 3 Explore TreatmentsSimplestepsExplore Treatments

go to Interactive Tools go to Parents' Guide go to Dental Drugs go to News

Back to Conditions
New reviewed by Columbia banner
.
.
Trismus

space placeholder.space placeholder
space placeholder.What Is It?.
space placeholder.Symptoms.
space placeholder.Diagnosis.
space placeholder.Expected Duration.
space placeholder.Prevention.
space placeholder.Treatment.
space placeholder.When To Call a Professional.
space placeholder.Prognosis.
space placeholder.Additional Info.
space placeholder..
space placeholder

space placeholder
space placeholder.What Is It?
space placeholder

Trismus means being unable to open the mouth completely. It can be caused by muscle, nerve or joint damage.

Trismus is not a disease. It is a symptom of another problem.

Trismus can be caused by:
  • Trauma (injury) to the face and/or jaw
  • Problems with the jaw joint (also known as the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ) — This is one of the most common causes of trismus.
  • Surgery
  • A tumor in the jaw area (of soft tissue or bone)
  • Local muscle soreness from clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxism)
  • A local anesthetic shot, if the needle nicks the muscle tissue or a blood vessel and causes some internal bleeding
  • Radiation therapy to the head and neck — Of people who receive such radiation, 10% to 40% will develop trismus.
  • Infection
  • Diseases that affect the whole body, particularly central nervous system disorders or autoimmune diseases such as lupus
  • Tetanus (lockjaw)

Trismus often develops slowly, for example in someone who is receiving radiation. For this reason, it may go unnoticed for some time. Trismus also can develop suddenly. An example would be someone who is in a car accident and has trauma to the jaw.

In certain cases, if trismus is left untreated, problems with swallowing, speech and oral hygiene can develop.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Symptoms
space placeholder

Difficulty opening the mouth is the main sign of trismus. Problems with speech and/or swallowing also can occur. The severity of trismus depends on its cause. Pain also can be a symptom.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Diagnosis
space placeholder

Your dentist or physician will discuss your medical history leading up to the trismus and do a physical examination. Head and neck imaging may be needed to detect the cause. These may include panoramic X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Expected Duration
space placeholder

How long trismus lasts depends on its cause. For example, trismus from muscle soreness (caused by clenching or grinding the teeth) may disappear in as little as a week. Trismus caused by radiation therapy or trauma will take longer to go away.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Prevention
space placeholder

The way to prevent trismus is to prevent the cause. This is not always possible. If you clench or grind your teeth, a bite splint may prevent trismus. People who get radiation therapy to the head and neck can undergo physical therapy for the jaw. This will decrease the risk of trismus. Treating a jaw infection early may prevent scar tissue, which can lead to trismus.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Treatment
space placeholder

Depending on the cause of the trismus, various treatments are available. Diagnostic tests should begin as soon as possible. Otherwise, the condition can get worse. This makes treatment more difficult.

Many devices can be used to open the mouth gradually. They vary in cost, function and how well they work. They are not prescribed in every case.

Exercises usually are prescribed. They should be done several times a day. Some people may need to continue using the device and/or doing the exercises for many months to ensure that the trismus does not get worse or return. In more severe cases, physical therapy and muscle relaxants may be prescribed.

space placeholder
space placeholder.When To Call a Professional
space placeholder

A health care professional should evaluate any episode of trismus, particularly if it is sudden. If you have trouble opening your mouth, contact your doctor or dentist.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Prognosis
space placeholder

The outlook for trismus varies greatly, depending on the cause. Infections and jaw-joint inflammations that are treated early have an excellent prognosis. Delayed treatment can lead to a poor prognosis.

space placeholder
space placeholder.Additional Info
space placeholder

Oral Cancer Foundation
3419 Via Lido, 205
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Phone: 949-646-8000
Fax: 949-496-3331
E-Mail: info@oralcancerfoundation.org
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/
.
printer friendly format option iconPrinter-friendly version     
.
Last updated May 3, 2010
.
.
printer friendly format option iconPrinter-friendly version
 
Terms and Conditions / Disclaimer.Privacy Policy.Editorial Policy.Contact Us.About Us.Site Map.
Powered by Aetna Dental Plans

© 2002-2012 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen. Use of this online service is subject to the disclaimer and the terms and conditions. External website links provided on this site are meant for convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement. These external links open in a different window.