Stiff Jaw Since Filling

[Sea Demon]

I had a re-filling done almost 2 weeks ago and after 3-4 days my jaw on the side that I had the injection has become quite stiff - is this normal?

Never had any issues before & will probably sort itself out but just wondered, just incase it doesn't..

[Rollin]

I'm sure Yipper will be along soon to give you definitive advice, but being a dentist, I'll contribute.

Sometimes the injection can cause these symptoms, especially if it was a lower back tooth that was anaesthetised.

It could also be because you had your mouth open for a long time during the treatment.

It should pass after a few days but see your dentist again if any swelling develops.

[Sea Demon]

Thanks, it was a lower back tooth. No swelling as such but I can feel it affecting my speech and ear ever so slightly.

[GordonL]

Another dentist... you wait ages and they all come at once :-)
Try some ice packs on the muscles of the jaw joints, just ahead of your ears. If that's no good then try heat like hot water bottle.
Sometimes some ibuprofen or paracetamol can help reduce the inflammation a bit too.

[Sea Demon]

Thanks for the help - sat with a hot cloth on my jaw last night, feels a bit better today - guess it will just take a little bit of time to go down but was done 2 weeks today.

[Sea Demon]

Qick update on this, took roughly 7 weeks to get back to normal - in the end, jaw was very stiff, pain in ear when trying to eat which made my eyes water & cheek went numb so guessing the injection aggravated a nerve but all Ok now

[MacGee]

the insertion of the needle goes quite a long way in and can traumatise the tissues. This can give stiffness to that area...not uncommon.