Jaw cavitations are serious oral health problems that are not well understood by a large part of the dental community. Many patients who have cavitations do not have easy-to-diagnose symptoms, and may not even have pain in the area of cavitation, which can lead to many fruitless dental visits, frustration, and pain. At Beverly Hills Dental Health and Wellness in Beverly Hills, CA, periodontist Dr. Sanda Moldovan is experienced in identifying and providing effective treatment for jaw cavitations — even when you have vague symptoms — so you can get out of pain and back to your normal life.
What are jaw cavitations?
Most people have heard of dental cavities and think a jaw cavitation is the same thing, but it isn’t. While a dental cavity is a hole in a tooth caused by decay, a jaw cavitation is a hole in the bone that typically develops in the spot where a tooth has been previously extracted and bacteria/parasites/fungus can coexist. During extractions, small pieces of periodontal ligaments, or infected tissues can be left behind in the tooth socket, which prevents the bone from properly healing. This leads to the development of a “hole” in the bone that is cut off from the nutrient-rich blood supply and prevents new bone from growing in that area, making the bone look spongy or hollow in the affected area. Over time, cavitation can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and toxins that can affect multiple biological processes in the body, such as enzyme and protein absorption. Blood flow to the area can become cut off and lead to further necrosis of the bone. Left untreated, jaw cavitations can lead to bone damage, pain, systemic inflammation,chronic fatigue and exacerbation of other chronic conditions, such as Lyme disease and autoimmune issues.
While anyone can develop a jaw cavitation, which is also called “ischemic bone disease,” there are certain risk factors that increase your chances of developing one, which include:
- Smoking
- Gum disease
- Prior wisdom tooth removal, other dental extraction, or root canal
- Taking bisphosphonates (often used to treat or prevent osteoporosis) in low doses
- Bone cysts
- Clotting disorders
- Traumatic injury to the mouth
- Use of steroids
How jaw cavitations are treated
Many patients who have cavitations are not even aware they have them. Cavitations cannnot be deteced properly on traditional x-rays. That’s why Dr. Sanda Moldovan and the team at Beverly Hills Dental Health and Wellness use advanced imaging techniques, a digital cone beam scan, to diagnose this problem, in combination with a thorough evaluation of your dental history, medical history, and symptoms.
If you are diagnosed with a cavitation, then the best way to treat it is with a conservative but effective cavitation surgical procedure. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the affected area of bone to eliminate the source of infection and toxins so that your body can regenerate healthy new tissue and facilitate healing. First, we will numb the area so that you are completely comfortable for the duration of your treatment. Once you are numb, a small incision is created in your gums and the dentist will use an advanced dental laser to precisely eliminate the affected bone until only healthy bone remains. Ozone water sanitizes the area to remove disease-causing bacteria. We also use platelet rich fibrin (PRF) treatment and low level laser therapy to help stimulate your immune system, expedite healing, and restore health to your oral tissues. Sutures are used to close up the wound. A biopsy sample of the site is taken to identify the kind of microorganisms present. Usually, patients can manage the pain post-surgery with over-the-counter painkillers or homeopathics. IV nutrition is also recommended following this procedure.
Call us to learn more
Jaw cavitations do not always cause pain or discomfort but can wreak havoc on your overall health and wellbeing, which is why it is important to regularly see your dentist for check-ups. At Beverly Hills Dental Health and Wellness, we know how an issue like a jaw cavitation can affect your entire body and offer gentle, effective treatments to restore your mouth to health. If you have been feeling “off” or like something is not quite right, or if you are simply in need of your regular cleaning and exam, we encourage you to call our Beverly Hills, CA office at (310) 692-7855 today. Existing patients can reach us at (310) 275-4180 .
Beverly Hills Dental Health and Wellness offers effective treatment of jaw cavitations. Call our Beverly Hills, CA office at (310) 692-7855 to learn more.
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