Oral Surgery
WHAT IS A JAW INFECTION AND WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE
Huntersville (Charlotte Metro), NC
Jaw infections cause pain, swelling, and fever that require prompt evaluation and treatment.
Jaw infections cause pain, swelling, and fever that require prompt evaluation and treatment.
A jaw infection usually starts as a dental problem, a cavity, a cracked tooth, or gum disease, that spreads into the bone and soft tissue surrounding the jaw. It typically feels like a deep, throbbing ache that does not let up, paired with swelling in the face, jaw, or neck. Many patients also notice tender or puffy gum tissue near the affected tooth, sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, and pain that radiates up toward the ear or eye and down into the neck.
Because the jawbone sits close to the sinuses, ear canal, and major blood vessels of the head and neck, an infection that starts in a single tooth can escalate quickly if it is not treated. Dr. Raymond J. Haigney II, FACS at Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery in Huntersville evaluates jaw infections every week, and the pattern is consistent: the earlier a patient is seen, the simpler the treatment.
Most jaw infections trace back to one of two sources, a dental abscess at the root of a tooth, or a bone infection called osteomyelitis. Both require prompt attention, but they are treated differently, so an accurate diagnosis matters as much as fast action.
The most common cause is a dental abscess. When a cavity is left untreated, bacteria work through the enamel and dentin and eventually reach the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth that holds nerves and blood vessels. Once the infection reaches the pulp, it can travel out through the root tip and into the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Other causes include:
Jaw infections rarely stay quiet. Watch for:
If an abscess ruptures on its own, the pressure and pain can ease temporarily, but the relief is short-lived. Without treatment, the infection reforms and the discomfort returns, often worse than before.
Call your dentist or an oral surgeon right away if you have jaw pain combined with facial swelling, fever, or difficulty opening your mouth, swallowing, or breathing. Swelling that spreads toward the eye or down the neck, or a fever above 101 degrees F, are signs the infection may be moving beyond the tooth and into deeper tissue. These cases need same-day evaluation, not a wait-and-see approach.
Your general dentist can treat many straightforward abscesses, but will refer you to an oral surgeon when the infection is deep, has spread into the bone, or requires a tooth extraction or surgical drainage that falls outside routine dental care.
Diagnosis starts with a clinical exam, checking for swelling, tenderness, and the source tooth, followed by a dental X-ray or panoramic scan to see how far the infection has spread into the bone. If osteomyelitis or a deeper facial space infection is suspected, Dr. Haigney may order a CT scan to map the extent of the infection before deciding between antibiotics alone, drainage, or a combination of both.
Treatment depends on the source and severity of the infection:
In every case, the guiding principle is the same, treat the source of the infection first, then manage pain and swelling while the tissue heals. Waiting rarely makes treatment easier and often makes it more involved.
Jaw infections sometimes overlap with other jaw problems that bring patients into our office. A jaw infection can occasionally cause enough inflammation around the jaw joint to temporarily limit how far you can open your mouth, a symptom worth mentioning during your exam. Chronic jaw pain unrelated to infection is more often tied to TMJ disorders, which are evaluated and treated separately from an active infection.
If you are dealing with jaw pain, swelling, or a suspected infection, do not wait for it to worsen. Dr. Haigney and the team at Lake Norman Oral & Facial Surgery see urgent infection cases regularly and can typically get you in quickly. Call (704) 987-3132 or request an appointment online to get evaluated.
Related Article: How Long Does a Locked Jaw Last?
Words cannot express enough, how wonderful, caring and professional Dr. Haigney and his staff are! After being rushed to the Huntersville hospital with an orbital fracture, broken nose and other facial damage, Dr. Haigney rushed me into surgery (on his day off I must add) and corrected all my problems. I only wish all doctors cared as much about their patients and their recovery as Dr. Haigney and his staff did. Thank you so much for everything! Your attention and compassion has helped me make my recovery as comfortable as possible. 5 star service!
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