Medically reviewed by Dr. Amin P. Samadian, DDS, MBA, Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. Last reviewed November 7, 2026.
If your jaw has locked, call us the same day. A jaw that suddenly will not open past a certain point, or will not close, is easier to settle the sooner it is seen. Dr. Amin Samadian treats locked jaws at the San Francisco Center for TMJ and Sleep Apnea. Call 415-570-2841.
If your jaw is stuck open and will not close at all, that is urgent. Call us right away, and if we are closed, go to an emergency room.
Two kinds of locked jaw
Closed lock: the jaw will not open fully
This is the most common kind. Inside each jaw joint a small disc of cartilage sits between the bones. When the disc slips forward and stays there, it blocks the joint, and the mouth opens only partway, often about two fingers wide. Many people with a closed lock had a click in that joint for months or years, and then one day the click stopped and the jaw would not open.
Open lock: the jaw will not close
Here the jaw has moved past its normal range on a wide yawn, a long dental visit or a big bite, and cannot get back. It is less common and needs to be seen right away.
Signs your jaw is locking
- Your mouth opens only partway, or the jaw catches and you have to wiggle it to open
- A click you used to have has suddenly stopped and opening got smaller
- The jaw swings to one side when you open
- Pain in front of the ear when you chew or yawn
- Trouble taking a full bite of food
How we treat a locked jaw
Treatment starts with finding out which joint is involved and why. We examine how the jaw opens and moves, and a 3D CBCT scan in the office shows the joint bones. Then we start with the least invasive step that fits.
Getting the jaw moving again
For a recent closed lock, gentle jaw mobilization in the office can often improve opening, and we show you how to keep it moving at home.
A custom orthotic
A custom oral orthotic holds the jaw in a position that takes pressure off the joint and the disc, so the joint can calm down and is less likely to lock again.
Physical therapy and muscle care
Jaw-focused physical therapy and myofunctional therapy work on the muscles around the joint. When the muscles are clamping down, Botox for the jaw muscles can ease them.
PRF for the joint
For a joint that stays inflamed, PRF made from your own blood can be placed in the joint to calm inflammation and support healing.
The bite
If the way your teeth meet keeps pushing the joint out of place, we address the bite with orthodontics once the joint has settled.
What helps while you wait to be seen
- Eat soft foods and cut food small
- Do not force the jaw open, and support your chin when you yawn
- Use warm compresses on the side of the face
- Avoid gum, hard foods and biting your nails
Book a locked jaw visit in San Francisco
We are at 260 Stockton St, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108. Call 415-570-2841 or request an appointment online.
