Overview
A jaw tumour or jaw bone tumour is a swelling in the mouth that affects the jaw bones. The tumour can either be benign or malignant. A benign jaw tumour develops slowly & it can be controlled in the initial stages itself by taking appropriate treatment. On the other hand, a malignant tumour can prove to be cancerous. These tumours can affect both the upper & lower jaw. Jaw tumours can either be primary (tumours that develop from within the cells of the jaw bone) or secondary (tumours which develop from cancerous cells that travel from other affected parts of the body to the jaw). Jaw tumours are most common among those who smoke & chew tobacco.
Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms, stages, diagnosis & treatment for jaw tumours…
Causes –
- Tobacco, Betel nut & smoking – Chewing tobacco, Betel nut & smoking cigarettes is the most common reason for the cause of malignant jaw tumor.
- Alcohol – Excessive consumption of Alcoholic drinks causes irritation in the oral mucosa which gives birth to secondary jaw tumors or cancer.
- Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome/Gorlin-Goltz syndrome – People with this syndrome lack the tumor-suppressing genes in the body which results in the development of tumors & cysts within the jaws.
- HPV infection – Human Papilloma Virus can cause oral tumors & cancers which can with time make its way down to the throat.
- There are many other factors which involve abusing the oral cavity like using mouthwashes constituting alcohol & getting heavily exposed to sunlight, whose radiation can cause tumors in the jaw.
Symptoms –
- Swelling – The swelling can either occur inside the mouth or outside on the face.
- Pain in the mouth – In the initial stages of the tumour, you may not experience much pain in the jaw, but as the size of tumour grows, the pain starts to increase. If the tumour is subjected to pressure, it can cause pain in the head & neck. You might also face trouble chewing food & opening the mouth.
- Numbness – Numbness & tingling sensation in the jaw can occur.
- Loosening of teeth – The teeth suddenly start to become loose, & this is a common sign of jaw cancer.
The following symptoms are common in case of aggravated or secondary cancerous jaw tumours –
- Pain in the head – Pain in the forehead, temples, scalp & at the back of the head.
- Ear problems – Problems in the ear such as buzzing & ringing sounds, dizziness, itchy ears, hearing loss & ear pain with no signs of infection.
- Eye problems – Increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight, bloodshot & bulging eyes & pain in the eyes.
- Neck problems – Stiffness & pain in the neck, sore muscles, shoulder & backaches.
- Throat problems – Difficulty in swallowing food & water, change in voice, sore throat without any signs of infection, & Laryngitis.
Treatment –
Jaw tumor treatment involves mouth surgery, and might also require radiation &/or chemotherapy.
- Surgery – Jaw surgery is done to remove the tumors when they haven’t yet spread to other parts of the body.
- Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is given to kill the cancerous cells in the jaw & to prevent them from spreading to adjacent parts of the body.
- Radiation – Radiation therapy is done to reduce the size of tumours & to prevent the cancerous cells from spreading.
Getting treated during the early stages will help in successfully eliminating the tumours. Chemotherapy & radiation treatment have proved to be very effective in eliminating these cancerous cells.
At Aesthetica Dental Implants Clinic in Kolkata, which is the best dental clinic in Eastern India, we are here to provide you with expert guidance, treatment and post-treatment care for all your dental worries.