Trismus is linked to a long list of conditions and medical issues. The most common causes are TMD, reaction to head and neck cancer treatment or after wisdom teeth removal.
Trismus is commonly referred to as lockjaw and is usually due to sustained tetanic spasms of the muscles of mastication. Although it was initially described in the setting of tetanus, it is now used to refer to a bilateral restriction in mouth opening from any cause.
Patients need to know that trismus that occurs 1 year after treatment will be permanent and that there is no good surgical or medical therapy. Aggressive encouragement will lead to good compliance with trismus exercises and a low incidence of severe trismus, even after surgery and radiation.
Trismus usually resolves itself in less than two weeks, but it can be very painful in the meantime. Permanent trismus can occur too.
Severe trismus makes it difficult or impossible to insert dentures. It may make physical re-examination difficult, if limited mouth opening precludes adequate visualization of the site. Oral hygiene is compromised, chewing and swallowing is more difficult, and there is an increased risk of aspiration.
If you feel like you might have Trismus or lockjaw, it is important that you visit an ENT hospital. They might refer you to a dental surgeon and an orthopedician, based on the severity of the condition.
Although less common, in some situations, patients can be prescribed medication to help with their trismus or its symptoms. Some severe cases of trismus can also be treated with surgery.
Trismus or lock jaw due to masseter muscle spasm, can be a primary presenting symptom in tetanus, Caused by Clostridium tetani, where tetanospasmin (toxin) is responsible for muscle spasms.
Physiotherapy treatments may be required to establish normal function (exercises will include neck stretching, chin tuck, massaging of masticatory muscles, and other jaw stretching). Mandibular opening devices might be considered in some cases, but most likely provided by a physiotherapist or dental specialist.
In contrast there are six so-called muscle relaxants (cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, metaxalone, ophendrine, chlorzoxazone, and carisoprodol). These drugs are primarily used to treat painful musculoskeletal conditions, which exhibit muscle spasms, secondary muscle guarding, bracing, tightening, or trismus.
Trismus caused by inflammation resolves by itself in due course, without need of any intervention. Whereas, when there is infection, trismus persists for a prolonged duration and it may even aggravate. This can be controlled by prescribing antibiotics.
A usual mouth opening for an adult is about 40 to 50 millimetres. This is about the height of 3 fingers stacked on top of each other and placed between your top and bottom front teeth. You have trismus if you are not able to do this easily.
When someone can't open his or her mouth wider than 1.3 inches, they are considered to have trismus. It can be caused by damage or injury to the jaw, and it can also arise as a result of TMD.
The answer is “yes.” Stress can definitely contribute to TMJ, or even be a direct cause of TMJ.
Trismus can reduce the ability to eat and speak. Patients with trismus may have difficulty performing and receiving dental care. There are a variety of massages and exercises you can perform to prevent trismus.
Sugar free chewing gum may be helpful to keep your jaw moving.
Many things may cause jaw pain, but temporomandibular joint disorder is the most common reason why your jaw hurts. Other common causes may include (top left) arthritis (top right) periodontal disease or( bottom row) infections like sinusitis or tetanus.
This symptom is usually relieved after 1 to 2 weeks; however, it may persist for >1 month post‑operatively in very rare cases. The present study reports the case of a patient with trismus at 45 days following mandibular third molar extraction.
These side effects may include xerostomia (dry mouth), mucositis, and pain. Other side effects associated with trismus include pain in the ear and jaw, headaches, and trouble hearing. Your chance of having trismus is related to the amount of radiation your jaw got during treatment.
Trismus has also been defined as mouth opening less than 40 mm; others have defined it as an opening to 15 to 30 mm, or even less than 20mm. Additionally, other authors have graded trismus according to visual assessment of mouth opening (light/moderate/severe or grades 1 to 3, again corresponding to mouth opening).
The approximate healing times for a broken jaw are as follows: Conservative treatment (cold packs, rest, and medication), no surgery: 4-6 weeks. Surgical wiring or plates: 3-6 months.
The OraStretch® Press Rehab System is a hand operated device that provides easy home therapy and stretching for limited jaw opening, trismus, and dysfunction. The OraStretch press successfully prevents and treats trismus from cancer, trauma, TMJD, facial burns, and stroke.
Trismus is a classical symptom of masticatory space infections and it can be a sign of an infection in the anterior compartment of lateral pharyngeal space. Common causes in clinical practice followed by trismus are odontogenic infection which can be periodontal or pericoronal.