Facial Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Have you had a jaw injury?

See significance of a jaw injury if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have a broken jawbone with open skin over the fracture site?

Yes

Do you have a broken jawbone and loose teeth?

Yes

Do you have a broken jawbone and bleeding in the mouth?

Yes

Do you have a broken jawbone, and your teeth are out of alignment (malocclusion)?

Yes

Is your jaw locked in an open or closed position and you cannot unlock it?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Is your lower lip numb?

Yes

Do you have one or two spots of tenderness (focal pain) in your jaw?

Yes

Are you having trouble moving your jaw normally, such as opening or closing your mouth?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had painful clicking, popping, or grating when you open and close your jaw for longer than 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	May 15, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer