General Information About Trismus
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a condition where a person cannot open their mouth normally (restricted to an opening of no more than 2-3 centimeters) due to an involuntary, severe contraction and spasm of the masticatory muscles (particularly the masseter muscle) responsible for moving the jaw.
A severe blunt impact to the jaw region (trauma), radiation therapy to the head/neck area, the rare but fatal Tetanus infection, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can precipitate trismus. However, the most frequently encountered etiology in daily practice is Intraoral Infections.
Particularly, inflammation of impacted lower wisdom teeth (pericoronitis) or the postoperative edema and tissue trauma ensuing from their complex surgical extraction irritates the adjacent masticatory muscles, triggering a protective reflex spasm that leads to lockjaw (trismus).
Symptoms include severe pain in the TMJ and buccal region when attempting to force the mouth open, inability to masticate solid foods (restriction to a liquid diet via straw), impaired articulation (speech difficulties), and compromised oral hygiene maintenance.
The Dentist (Maxillofacial Surgeon) evaluates the patient's maximal incisal opening (MIO) (normally, it should accommodate 3-4 fingers width). A Panoramic Dental X-ray or Tomography (CBCT) is obtained to identify the underlying infection, fracture, or abscess.
If the etiology of the lockjaw is a dental abscess, the offending tooth is immediately extracted, or the abscess is incised and drained, followed by antibiotic therapy. Muscle relaxant medications are prescribed to ease the muscular tension. The patient applying Warm Compresses (with a towel) to the cheek area several times a day at home and performing gentle mouth-opening exercises will resolve the rigid muscular spasm within a few days.
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