What does this mean?
During a long treatment the mouth stays wide open for a long time. That strains the jaw joint and the chewing muscles, a muscle group that is held under load without rest. After the treatment the jaw can feel tired, stiff and sore, and the joint can sometimes click.
At the site of a local anaesthetic injection for the lower jaw, a muscle can also stiffen and opening the mouth can become harder. That comes from the needle and the anaesthetic irritating the muscle, and it usually eases slowly over a few days.
In people who clench, grind their teeth or already have a joint problem, the effect is stronger and can last longer. If the mouth cannot open at all, the jaw catches on one side, or the pain grows after a few days, another cause should be looked for and an examination is needed.
Four causes are common behind jaw pain after treatment, and where the pain is, how far opening is limited and when it began separate them.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Eat soft food for a few days and take small bites
- Hold a warm, damp cloth against the sore area
- Avoid wide yawning, chewing gum and hard food
- Move your jaw slowly and gently, without going past the point of pain
- Being able to open the mouth less than two fingers wide
- The jaw catching or locking open or shut
- A fever, swelling in the cheek or a bump on the gum
- Pain that continues or grows after two weeks
Frequently asked questions
- How many days does jaw pain last after dental treatment?
- In most people it eases slowly over a few days to two weeks. If it goes beyond two weeks, grows, or opening becomes steadily more limited, it needs an examination.
- Why can't I open my mouth fully?
- A local anaesthetic injection in the lower jaw, or a mouth held open for a long time, can make muscles stiffen. This is usually temporary. But if the mouth cannot open at all, or fever and swelling come with it, it should be seen by a dentist.
- Is the clicking in my jaw because of the treatment?
- A mouth held open for a long time can make an existing joint problem more obvious. If the clicking is new and comes with pain, a dentist should check it; clicking on its own does not always mean a problem.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.