What is a Jaw Infection and What Does it Feel Like

What is a Jaw Infection and What Does it Feel Like?

General dentists, physicians, and specialists in the medical and dental fields treat many conditions that affect the jaw, several of which also affect the head, neck, and face. Many jaw problems are painful, sometimes excruciatingly so, and the pain they cause can radiate from the jaw to adjacent areas, including the ears and eyes. Jaw pain can affect a person’s ability to eat properly and comfortably and can also make it difficult for them to do something as simple as turning their head, and some jaw conditions can cause pain and also lead to significant issues over the long run. Prompt diagnosis is an important part of the successful treatment of jaw pain, so call your dentist if you’re experiencing pain in your jaw for more than a couple of days, or pain in your jaw that appears suddenly and intensely.

Jaw infections, in particular, can cause excruciating pain and require timely treatment to ensure optimal outcomes. Infections in the jaw are painful, both in the jaw and in other parts of the mouth, and the area of an infection appears swollen or red. There may be visible pus oozing from the tooth or surrounding area. Jaw infections arise when dental cavities are allowed to continue decaying without treatment. When dental cavities aren’t treated right away, bacteria can accumulate in the cavity and cause the inside of the tooth to get infected. Once the inside of the tooth is infected, the infection can spread into the jawbone. If you have an infected tooth, see your dentist as soon as you can. The goal is to reduce the infection as promptly as possible, before it can proliferate and affect the jaw and surrounding bones. Your dentist will prescribe antibiotics to address systemic infection and will drain the infection from the tooth if this is possible. If the infection is too severe, the tooth may need to be extracted, and it may be necessary to perform surgery to keep the infection from invading the bone tissue and continuing to spread. The procedures may require additional dental and medical specialists to join the team for treatment to be completed..

Dentists routinely collaborate with other medical specialists, including plastic surgeons, oral surgeons, and doctors who specialize in conditions of the ear, nose, and throat, when they are planning and executing treatment for jaw trauma. Injury to the jaw can occur because of all manner of accidents and traumas, and this team of specialists will collaborate to repair the injury while maintaining and restoring the function and appearance of the mouth and teeth. Some patients have congenital deformities that affect their jaw, and these specialized medical and dental teams also cooperate to correct these deformities. Repairing jaw deformities can improve the appearance of the smile, and it can also restore the functionality of the mouth and the accuracy of the bite. While some bite problems may seem minor, even minor problems with the alignment of the jaw can lead to larger issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, and temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. Dentists and dental specialists correct jaw deformities with surgical and orthodontic treatments, usually used in conjunction.