Diseases of the Jaw
Diseases of the Jaw Casula
Jawbone infections are caused when a dental cavity remains untreated, and the tooth pulp becomes infected due to build-up of bacteria.
If left untreated, the infection can occur and cause even more systemic health issues.
Symptoms of Jaw Diseases
Symptoms of Diseases of the Jaw may include:
- Jaw and mouth pain
- Facial redness
- Facial swelling
- Pus draining from the area
- Fever
- Sensitivity to bite force
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes below your jaw or in your neck
Antibiotics may be useful in severe cases but are rarely needed for tooth infections. In more severe cases, a tooth may need to be removed.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is treated by eliminating the source of the infection and draining away the pus.
The possible treatments include:
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth extraction
- Incision and drainage
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare but severe condition in which the cells in the jawbone start to die.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw, commonly called ONJ, occurs when the jawbone is exposed to a lack of blood supply.
Most cases of osteonecrosis happen after a dental extraction. Osteo means bone and necrosis means death.
Risk of osteonecrosis is greater when there is prior damage to the bone, during radiation therapy, or after specific osteoporosis treatment.
Symptoms of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
- Pain, swelling, redness, or other signs of infection in the gums
- Gum or sockets that don’t heal after dental work
- Loose teeth
- Number or heavy feeling in the jaw
- Draining
- Having bone become visible in your mouth
Consult your Casula dentist who will be happy to discuss restoration with you.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the bone that attaches the jaw to the temporal bones of the skull.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, known more commonly as TMD, occurs when there are problems with the muscles and jaws in the face. You may not be able to open your mouth very wide without pain or clicking noises.
Usually, this is the result of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth over a long period, generally at night. Specific injuries or arthritis can also cause direct damage to the joint. TMJ dysfunction or TMJ disorders such as this can cause facial pain, headaches, dizziness, and neck and back pain.
There are common signs and symptoms of TMD, but it is often hard to know for sure if you have this disorder, since one or all of these signs and symptoms can also mean other problems.
Your Casula dentist can help make a proper diagnosis.
These symptoms may include the following:
- Severe pain in the face, jaw or ear area.
- Headaches (often migraines), earaches, and severe pain behind the eyes.
- A clicking or popping sound when opening or closing the mouth.
- Locked jaw
- Tenderness of the jaw muscles.
- Swelling of the face.
Causes of TMJ Disorder
- Teeth or jaw injury
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Poor posture
- Stress
- Arthritis
- Gum chewing
How to Prevent TMJ
- Eat a soft diet to let your jaw relax
- Avoid biting your nails
- Avoid chewing gum
- Avoid biting your lower lip
- Limit large jaw movements, such as yawning and singing
Exercises for TMJ pain relief can:
- Strengthen jaw muscles
- Stretch the jaw
- Relax the jaw
- Increase jaw mobility
- Reduce jaw clicking
- Promote jaw healing
During your exercise, at first, you may feel pain, and if exercise does not bring relief consult with your Casula dentist as soon as possible.
Diseases of the Jaw in Casula
At Casula Dental Care, we assure you of safe and effective dental and jaw care. We provide custom-made treatments tailored just for you!
Visit your Casula dentist today
If you want to know more about diseases of the jaw in Casula, please call us on (02) 919 99695 or request your appointment online.
We are located at Shop 17A Casula Mall, 1 Ingham Drive in Casula.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is temporomandibular joint disorder treated?
This includes eating soft food, using ice to reduce swelling, reducing jaw movement, and performing stretching exercises.