DO CAR CRASHES CAUSE TMJ DISORDERS?

DO CAR CRASHES CAUSE TMJ DISORDERS?

Car crashes can indeed cause TMJ (Temporo-mandibular Joint) disorders by injuring the jaw joint directly or indirectly through whiplash, impact trauma, or referred pain from the neck. The sudden forces of a collision strain the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to misalignment, inflammation, or disc displacement that may not show symptoms until hours or days later killeenchiropractic.com michiganautolaw.com.

HOW DO CAR ACCIDENTS CAUSE TMJ PROBLEMS?

Whiplash injuries

Rapid forward–backward motion of the head and neck strains jaw muscles and ligaments.

This can cause disc displacement inside the TMJ or delayed onset jaw pain killeenchiropractic.com uppercervicalawareness.com.

Direct impact trauma

Striking the jaw against the steering wheel, dashboard, or airbag can fracture, dislocate, or misalign the joint.

Even minor crashes with airbag deployment have been linked to TMJ injuries killeenchiropractic.com.

Referred pain from neck trauma

Neck and jaw share overlapping nerve pathways.

Inflammation in the cervical spine can trigger jaw pain, headaches, or earaches even without direct jaw injury killeenchiropractic.com.

Inflammatory response

Trauma can inflame the joint capsule, leading to arthritis-like changes (synovitis or degenerative joint disease) michiganautolaw.com.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TMJ SYNDROME?

Jaw pain or tenderness, especially when chewing or speaking

Clicking, popping, or locking of the jaw

Headaches, earaches, dizziness, or facial pain

Limited ability to open or close the mouth killeenchiropractic.com uppercervicalawareness.com michiganautolaw.com 

TMJ injuries after car accidents are often delayed and overlooked, since neck and back pain dominate attention. Early diagnosis and treatment (imaging, bite splints, physical therapy, chiropractic care) improve recovery and prevent chronic pain michiganautolaw.com.

Documentation is also important for insurance and legal claims, as proving the crash caused TMJ helps secure coverage michiganautolaw.com.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

Car crashes can cause TMJ disorders through whiplash, direct jaw impact, referred pain, and inflammation. If jaw pain, clicking, or difficulty chewing develops after a collision, it’s crucial to seek prompt medical evaluation to prevent long-term complications.

Sources: killeenchiropractic.comKilleen Chiropractic uppercervicalawareness.comUpper Cervical Awareness michiganautolaw.comMichigan Auto Law

WHAT ABOUT LOW-SPEED VS. HIGH-SPEED CRASHES?

Low-speed crashes can indeed cause TMJ disorders frequently, but high-speed crashes generally carry a greater risk of severe injury, including jaw trauma, such as dislocations and fractures. The difference lies in how the forces act on the body: low-speed collisions often produce whiplash and subtle joint strain, while high-speed crashes are more likely to cause direct fractures, dislocations, or widespread trauma.

LOW-SPEED COLLISIONS

Whiplash strain: Even at speeds under 15 mph, rear-end crashes can whip the head and neck forward and back, stressing the jaw muscles and ligaments.

Microtrauma: These subtle forces can displace the TMJ disc or inflame the joint capsule without obvious fractures.

Delayed symptoms: Pain, clicking, or jaw stiffness may appear days later, making diagnosis harder.

Common scenario: Rear-end “fender benders” are a frequent cause of TMJ complaints csesjournal.columbiasouthern.edu.

HIGH-SPEED COLLISIONS

Direct impact injuries: Striking the steering wheel, dashboard, or airbag can fracture or dislocate the jaw.

Greater force transmission: High/er speeds exponentially increase injury severity; crash test data shows injury risk rises sharply with speed AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Multiple trauma sites: TMJ damage may be part of a broader set of injuries (neck, skull, facial bones).

Immediate symptoms: Severe pain, swelling, and inability to open/close the mouth are more obvious.

COMPARING RISK

Low-speed crashes: More likely to cause subtle, chronic TMJ disorders through whiplash and strain.

High-speed crashes: More likely to cause acute, severe TMJ injuries (fractures, dislocations) due to direct trauma.

Key insight: TMJ can result from both—low-speed crashes often overlooked because injuries seem “minor,” while high-speed crashes are obvious but part of larger trauma.

Low-speed crashes: TMJ disorders are common but often underestimated, especially in rear-end collisions.

High-speed crashes: TMJ injuries are more severe but less frequent in isolation, since they occur alongside major trauma.

Bottom line: Low-speed crashes may cause TMJ issues more often, while high-speed crashes cause TMJ syndrome more severely.

Sources: AAA Foundation crash test data AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, accident reconstruction analysis Evidence Solutions, EU road safety speed-injury risk models road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu, low-impact injury studies csesjournal.columbiasouthern.edu, Institute of Transportation Engineers speed safety report Institute of Transportation Engineers

TMJ IN LOW-SPEED VS. HIGH-SPEED CRASHES

Here’s a comparison chart showing how low-speed vs. high-speed car crashes can lead to TMJ disorders, highlighting the differences in mechanisms, likelihood, and severity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS AND TREATMENTS

Low-speed crashes: TMJ disorders are more frequent, often caused by whiplash and subtle strain.

High-speed crashes: TMJ injuries are more severe, usually involving fractures or dislocations.

Both can lead to lasting problems, but low-speed crashes are more likely to be underestimated, overlooked, and missed in diagnosis.

Skilled physicians, whether medical, dental, or chiropractic, can diagnose and treat TMJ disorders.  Treatments may include ice and heat packs, mouth devices that allow the jaw muscles to relax (bite splints), chiropractic adjustments to the jaw joints and neck spine, and even surgery, as a last resort.