Jaw Bone Infection: What is Osteomyelitis of the Jaw?

Have you ever thought that your jaw pain is an indication of bone infection? Well, if not, you are not alone! This is because jaw bone infection rarely happens. However, when it does, it may require immediate medical attention. This condition commonly occurs when the microbial infection reaches the bone through periodontal lesions, abscessed teeth, or traumatic injuries. In fact, even the most sought-after dental replacement can possibly develop infections if handled haphazardly. Find more here: https://www.beyond32dental.com.au/are-dental-implants-safe. Meanwhile, learn more about osteomyelitis, its symptoms, types, and remedies here.

About Osteomyelitis of the Jaw

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation or infection of the bone or bone marrow. This most commonly influences the bones of the spine, extremities, and pelvis. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is uncommonly affected by this condition. However, when it is, severe issues with the bones of the face and jaw can occur.

Typically, the infection results from bacteria entering the body through oral surgery, such as a root canal treatment or poor oral hygiene. Individuals with diabetes, have liquor addiction, or other diseases that influence the immune system are also at greater risk. Furthermore, having had another new surgical treatment before oral surgery, jaw injury, or dental abscess may expand the risk.

Osteomyelitis in the jaw may occur more in males than females and is more common in the mandible than in the upper jaw. Some patients get laser treatment to help reduce pain and inflammation in the joint. Just as an example, the SLDC team is well experienced in performing treatments concerning dental issues and complications.

Moreover, to heal the affected bone, the body requires a white blood cell to the region. Nevertheless, the constant presence of white blood cells close to the bone really makes the bone separate. The infection confines blood flow to space and results in bone death called necrosis.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of osteomyelitis of the jaw include:

• Jaw pain
• Jaw stiffness
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Facial swelling
• Sinus drainage
• Tenderness to the touch
• Tooth loss
• Pus or thick, yellowish fluid
• Head and neck pain

You should look for immediate medical attention for a dental abscess. Your dentist will attempt to drain the infections and will most likely prescribe antibiotics. In extreme conditions, your dentist may need to perform a tooth extraction to prevent the disease from spreading further into the bones.

Type of Osteomyelitis

There are three main types of osteomyelitis. Treatment may depend upon the severity of the infection.

Acute Osteomyelitis

The infection in acute osteomyelitis creates within two weeks of trauma, initial illness, or the beginning of an underlying disease. The discomfort can be severe, and the condition can be life-threatening.

A course of antibiotics is typically viable. For adults, this is generally a 4-to 6-week course of intravenous. A few patients need treatment in the hospital, while others may get injections as an outpatient or at home if they can do it to themselves.

Sub-Acute Osteomyelitis

In this type, infection occurs within 1–2 months of an injury, beginning contamination, or the start of an underlying condition.

Treatment relies upon the seriousness and whether there is any new bone damage.

Furthermore, if there is no bone harm, therapy is like that utilized in acute osteomyelitis. However, if there is damage, treatment will be similar to chronic osteomyelitis.

Chronic Osteomyelitis

The infection in chronic osteomyelitis begins somewhere around 2 months after initial infection, injury, or the start of a fundamental disease.

Patients often require both antibiotics and surgery to fix any bone harm. Suppose the patient cannot endure the surgery because of a specific condition. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics for more extended, conceivably years, to suppress the infection. In any case, some persistent infections may need to remove all or part of the affected area.

To sum up, the treatment for bone infection may rely upon the degree of the contamination. Sometimes, antibiotics may be sufficient. For others, surgery might be necessary to deplete and clean the infected part, followed by antibiotics. Additionally, your dentist will advise you to make a regular follow-up visit after treating your osteomyelitis to keep you healthy.

Physical Therapy for Osteomyelitis of the Jaw

Physical therapists can help reestablish the regular movement of the jaw and reduce the pain. However, antibiotics need to take effect first. Once you complete your antibiotics, you may have pain and restricted movement at the TMJ and cervical spine. You additionally may have headaches.

During the first appointment, your therapist will review your medical history and assess your TMJ to check for any abnormalities. After that, the therapist may put their hand in your mouth to analyze your jaw development.

Following the assessment, the physical therapist will choose proper treatment plans to improve jaw development and reduce the symptoms.

Improve Jaw Movement

A physical therapist uses professional hand developments called manual therapy to expand the movement and diminish symptoms in tissues and joints. Also, your therapist may apply manual treatment to stretch the jaw to:

• Restore normal muscle and joint flexibility
• Separate the scar tissues that may happen when injury or disease limits movement for a while

Your therapist may show you particular low-load works out. These are practices that do not exert too much pressure on your jaw. But reinforce the muscles of the jaw and restore a more natural, pain-free movement. Additionally, the physical therapist will teach you activities that help increase the opening of your jaw and improve how your jaw functions.

Moreover, if your pain is extreme, your therapist may utilize other treatments such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation to lessen pain.

Prevention

Prevention of infection begins with keeping a healthy lifestyle. Your body battles infections best when you have legitimate rest, nutrition, and hygiene, for example, tooth brushing and hand washing.

If you require dental surgery, the dentist or surgeon’s technique can be the beginning of avoiding infection. Nonetheless, you should take antibiotics as recommended after any surgical procedure, as everybody’s mouth has many microbes present. These bacteria do not represent a danger in ordinary circumstances.

After any treatment, you will be given directions about how to care for the healing area. For example, after wisdom tooth extraction, you can avoid infection by following recommendations for how and when to clean the mouth and applying gauze to cover the wound. You may have to adjust your diet to protect the area while permitting open injuries in the mouth to recuperate.

Moreover, suppose you observe any symptoms of infection or something that does not appear to be right with your mouth and jaw. It is a sign that you need to call your dentist or doctor to prevent worsening the condition.

References:

The Temporomandibular Joint Examination.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK271/

What’s to know about dental abscesses?

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170136

Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection).

https://www.medicinenet.com/osteomyelitis/article.htm

What Is Causing My Neck Pain and Headache?

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/what-causing-my-neck-pain-and-headache

What Are White Blood Cells?

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=35&ContentTypeID=160