Facial pain and swelling may be due to many common dental problems like caries, gum infections, impacted wisdom teeth, or TMJ disorders. Despite being rare, there might be more serious underlying reasons for the bone cancer of the jaw. Understanding and spotting some warning signs can make the diagnosis easier and increase the chances of successful treatment.
When is it more than just a dental problem?
It is normal for some discomfort to be felt during and right after a procedure performed on the jaw or other oral cavity structure. However, when the pain persists for a few weeks, gets worse, or is accompanied by swelling, then it requires additional attention.
Primary bone cancers of the jaw include osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Secondary (or metastatic) bone disease means that there is a spread of cancer from other parts of the body to the jaw. As this condition is pretty rare, the diagnosis of bone cancer of the jaw usually happens very late.
When should you visit a specialist?
Some warning signs require immediate medical examination from a dental specialist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or orthopaedic oncologist. They are:
-Persistent jaw or facial pain
-Swelling of the jaw or cheeks
-A hard lump or thickening near the jawbone
-Loose teeth without any gum infection
-Difficulty eating, speaking or opening the mouth wide
-Numbness and tingling of the lower lip, chin or jaw
-Bleeding from the gums with no apparent reason
-Unexplained fractures of the jaw after a minor trauma
Although these signs do not necessarily mean bone cancer of the jaw, their appearance should not be ignored.
Why is it difficult to diagnose?
Bone cancer of the jaw is quite rare and is mistaken for common dental problems because of the similarity of the symptoms. Many patients may have multiple rounds of antibiotics, root canal treatment, or tooth extraction before they get imaging results that reveal the real problem.
Diagnosis starts with clinical examination of the affected area and is followed by a set of diagnostic tests, which include X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, depending on the suspected severity of the condition. Biopsy is the best method for the confirmation and identification of the tumour type.
Treatment:
Bone cancer treatment depends on different factors such as the type of tumour, its localisation, stage, and general health condition of the patient. Jaw surgery is the most common way to treat jaw bone cancer. The main purpose of the surgery is to completely remove the tumour leaving proper margins intact.
Depending on the particular case, surgery may be followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other kinds of treatments. Nowadays, reconstruction methods help to restore the facial aesthetics and functionality of the mouth.
The majority of the cases of jaw pain and swelling are due to benign reasons. But the symptoms that last for too long need special evaluation instead of just trying different types of treatment.
A dental check-up plays an important role in the detection of possible abnormalities. The most important thing is that patients need to visit a doctor if their symptoms are persisting, regardless of all appropriate treatments.
(The author is a consultant, medical oncology and bone marrow transplant physician, Manipal Hospitals, Vijayawada)
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
