How to relieve jaw pain after bilateral condylar fracture?

Question

Hello doctor,

My wife is suffering from jaw pain since last three years. She had an accident before two years. She suffered bilateral condyle fractures. Closed fixation and conservative approach was done but after four weeks, case went bad with open bite issue. So again she went for closed fixation for four weeks. After that occulusion was perfect and she can chew and there was no pain for six months. But after six months she is suffering from pain specially on the left condyle. Everyday she is suffering in pain. Only solution is gyming. If she goes for gyming (cardio exercise) for one hour then pain goes away otherwise she is suffering from pain. Can you help her? I can send you the detailed report if you want.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Send me your most recent OPG (orthopantomogram) x ray digital image for examination before I could give an opinion.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Has the pain been constant since that day when the pain started happening or has it increased in intensity?

Does she have any ear pain or pain below the left jaw?

Was the attached OPG x ray taken recently?

Did you go forward with the extraction of the lower third molar i.e. wisdom tooth as suggested by your dentist? Have you removed it?

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Both the condyles seem to be fine, but there is a rare chance of compression of nerves which can sometimes cause such pain but it is very difficult to treat such cases.

In my opinion, you should get rid of all the four wisdom teeth on all four sides, starting with the two lower wisdom teeth on both sides.

This will help to reduce the pressure on the joint by preventing excessive force onto the condyles.

As she has healthy molar teeth on each side, the chewing motion is not affected at all. In my view, she will get some relief from the pain.

Please consider it as an option, removing all four wisdom teeth may be helpful in your case. Please do let me know the result if you go ahead with the above plan.

I hope this helps.