Self-Care at Home If there is any question that you may have a broken jaw, you need to be checked by a doctor or a dentist specializing in oral surgery micro motor. Ice should be applied to the jaw to help control the swelling on your way to be seen by the doctor. Sometimes you will need a paper cup to catch the drool or to spit blood into on the trip to the doctor or emergency department. Medical Treatment Many people who have jaw pain will not have a jaw fracture and will be treated with pain medications and instructions to eat a soft diet and to follow up with their doctor. Those with fractures require further evaluation. Many fractures of the jawbone are associated with gum problems or tissue damage and should be considered open fractures. They will be treated with antibiotics. Why Should I Choose Dental Implants? for more information. You may receive a tetanus shot. Pain will be addressed and managed effectively. Many mandible fractures are stable, and the only treatment required is wiring the upper and lower teeth together. This will most commonly be performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. More unstable fractures often require surgery. Surgical methods using plates across the fracture site may allow you to have normal motion of the mandible and to eat shortly after surgery. Next Steps Follow-up Many jaw fractures require surgery. Because of that, you may need to follow up with a surgeon. All antibiotics need to be taken as instructed. Follow all diet recommendations. Prevention Because the most common causes of jaw fractures are the result of motor vehicle accidents and assaults, the best prevention is to drive carefully and choose your friends wisely dental supplies. A more realistic step that can be taken is wearing protective devices in sporting activities. Outlook Depending on the nature and location of the fracture, the fracture may have to be fixed with surgery. Some fractures do not require surgery and are managed best with diet changes and pain control. Some people may need to be admitted to the hospital based on their injury dental equipment. Multimedia Media file 1: Broken jaw. The dark angular line near the bottom left of the skull (viewer's right) is the fracture. Photo courtesy of Lisa Chan, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona.