I have a jaw problem, anyone know what it could be?

Question: It started about 4 days ago. Sometimes when I talk or chew, the right side of my jaw pushes over to the left side. It is a little painful, but mostly just uncomfterable and annoying. Antone know what it could be, or how to fix it? I went to my doctor, and she said I had to see a dentist to look at it, she wouldn't even check it. I made a dentist appointment, but its not for three weeks, can anyone help shed light on the problem before that?

Answers:
At first, I thought you have a TMJ problem. The most common symptom of TMJ problem is painful clicking, popping or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth (in your case, talking and chewing). However, I now do think that you might have problems with your masticatory muscle (your chewing muscles) because you said that when you talk or chew, the right side of your jaw pushes over to the left side; This means that you have spasm of the muscles (Masseter, medial, or lateral pterygoid muscle). In about 90 percent of cases, the patient's description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examination of the face and jaw, provides information useful for diagnosing the TMJ disorders or muscle spasm. My advise to you is to see a ORAL-Medicine dentist who specialize in TMJ disorder or muscle spasm. Your general dentist should be able to refer you to one!!

Other Answers:
t m j

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T M J (google it)

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I would say it would be something like TMJ or it could be some kind of infection. If I were you, I wouldn't wait 3 weeks to see a dentist and head to an emergency room. What if something worse comes along and you can't open your mouth or chew at all? Slight annoyances aside, seek help!

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Sounds like a problem with you temporal mandibular joint. You could be grinding or clenching your teeth at night or during the day. Just wait to see the dentist.

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SOrry. Maybe your tongue is pusing it and your suing too much muscle to do it. But if a tooth hurts on one side, you want to eat just on the other side, anyway.

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It sounds like TMJ. Someone else asked a question about that and I answered it. If you look at that answer, it applies to you as well. (sorry for being lazy tonight and not retyping everything)

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TMD. It is a disorder of the TMJ. I have it, but can not open my mouth all the way. I can barely fit a plain McDonalds cheeseburger in my mouth. Right now I am fighting the insurance company to cover the problem. Your dentist will probably refer you to an oral surgeon, unless the dentist you are seeing specializes in TMJ disorders. Good Luck.

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