Diseases of the Jaw

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Diseases of the Jaw Leichhardt

Jawbone infections are caused when a dental cavity is left untreated, and the tooth pulp becomes infected due to build-up of bacteria.

If ignored, the infection can occur and cause even more severe health issues.

Symptoms of Jaw Diseases

Symptoms of jaw diseases may include:

Pain in the jaw and mouth
Redness and swelling in the face
Pus draining from the infected area
Fever
Sensitivity to bite force
Tender, swollen lymph nodes on your jaw or neck

If you experience any of these symptoms, make an inquiry to your Leichhardt dentist immediately. Prompt treatment involves removing the source of infection, usually by root canal therapy.

Antibiotics may be helpful in some cases but are rarely needed for tooth infections. In more severe cases, a tooth may need to be extracted.

Dental Abscesses

Dental abscesses are treated by eliminating the source of the infection and draining away the pus through:

Root canal therapy
Tooth extraction
Incision and drainage

Osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis is a rare but serious condition wherein the cells in the jawbone start to die. Most cases of osteonecrosis happen after tooth extraction.

Risk of osteonecrosis is greater when there is prior damage to the bone, during radiation therapy, or after certain osteoporosis treatments.

Symptoms of osteonecrosis include:

Pain, swelling, redness, or other signs of infection
Gum or sockets that don’t heal immediately after dental work
Loosened teeth
Numb or heavy feeling in the jaw
Draining
Having bone become visible in your mouth

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction occurs when there are problems with the muscles and jaws joints in the face. You may not be able to open your mouth widely without the pain or clicking noises.

This is the result of grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw over long periods, especially at night. Injuries can also cause damage to the joints.

TMJ dysfunctions such as this can cause face, head, neck and back pain and dizziness.

There are common signs of TMD, but it is often hard to find out for sure since one or all of these symptoms can also mean other dental or general health problems.

The symptoms may include the following:

Severe pain in the face, jaw or ears
Headaches and severe pain behind the eyes
Clicking or popping sound when opening and/or closing the mouth
Locked jaw
Tenderness of the jaw muscles
Face swelling

Causes of TMJ Disorder

Injury to the face
Teeth grinding or clenching
Poor posture
Stress
Arthritis and other jaw illness
Gum chewing

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Prevention

Have a soft diet to let your jaw relax
Avoid biting your nails
Avoid chewing gum
Avoid biting your lower lip
Limit jaw movements

Exercise for TMJ pain relief can:

Strengthens jaw muscles
Stretches the jaw
Relaxes the jaw
Increases jaw mobility
Reduces jaw clicking
Promotes jaw healing

During your exercise, you may feel pain at first. If exercise does not bring relief, consult with your Leichhardt dentist as soon as possible.