Osteomyelitis of the jaw is an infectious suppurative inflammation that involves jaw bones and results in osteonecrosis. This dangerous disease may cause major complications. The symptoms of the osteomyelitis of the lower jaw can be local and general. The pathology can proceed in acute, subacute and chronic form.
The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw is non-surgical in most cases.
Depending on the cause of occurrence, osteomyelitis can be hematogenous, odontogenic and traumatic.
The disease develops as the result of exposure to the infection with the blood from remote areas of inflammation. The disease initially affects the jaw bones and then teeth. Predisposing factors are scarlet fever, tonsillitis, suppurative otitis, furuncles and carbuncles of the jaw. The most often this type of osteomyelitis develops against the background of a chronic disease and, as a rule, affects the upper jaw.
Ways of infection diffusion are dental root, infected pulp. The disease is most often diagnosed in men. It is localized in the upper jaw. Predisposing factors are cyst, pulpitis, alveolitis, periodontitis, dental granuloma.
Traumatic osteomyelitis of the jaw is caused by traumas, gunshots, fractures. The affected part becomes an «open door» for penetration of bacteria and viruses.
Classification of osteomyelitis in stages: acute, subacute and chronic. Besides, osteomyelitis can be diffuse and circumscribed.
In case of the acute form of the disease the pronounced swelling and hyperemia of soft tissues, regional lymphadenitis and resulting facial asymmetry are noted.
You can book a consultation by a specialist on our website Dobrobut.com and learn how the hematogenous osteomyelitis of the jaw in children is treated. At the clinic, you can undergo the complete body check-up, after that a doctor will prescribe a therapy course and control the patient’s condition in this period.
Acute form. The diagnosis is determined after the check-up of a patient taking into account the results of clinical and laboratory tests. A significant amount of C-reactive protein, hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia are noticed in the blood chemistry. There are traces of protein, casts in urine. Culture will help to identify a causative agent. The signs of osteomyelitis of the upper jaw are not always evident on X-ray in case of the acute form.
Acute osteomyelitis requires differential diagnostics with festerous cyst, purulent periostitis, acute periodontitis.
Chronic form. During X-ray radiography, the areas of osteosclerosis and osteoporosis are detected as well as sequestration areas and membrane reticulated bone pattern.
Only a specialist should perform diagnostics of osteomyelitis of the jaw after a tooth extraction.
Local procedures include physical therapy (UHF-therapy, magnet therapy).
Surgeries in case of the destructive osteomyelitis of the jaw is performed according to individual indications when the disease is chronic.
Modern diagnostics of acute osteomyelitis and quality treatment will provide complete recovery of a patient. If the treatment approach is incorrect, the spread of infection may result in the development of brain abscess, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, sepsis.
Complications of the chronic form of the pathology: masseter contracture, false joints, pathologic fractures. Sometimes osteomyelitis of the jaw can cause amyloidosis of kidneys and heart.
Preventive measures: timely treatment of caries and periodontitis, immune system reinforcement, jaw injury prevention.
If you have any questions or need a consultation of a professional, please book an appointment. A doctor will tell you what acute odontogenic osteomyelitis of the jaw is and what its threats are. You can also undergo a preventive check-up of a dentist. Call the phone number or fill out the application form.
Article author: Tereshchuk Serhiy Antoniyovych
Publication date: 09.03.2020
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