A small broken tooth resulting in A huge Bony lesion
June 1, 2023
case study
A Lady Patient reported to our Bhede Multispeciality Dental Clinic with a huge swelling on one side of her face and excruciating pain. The patient and her family were very tense and suspicious as to why suddenly this swelling developed and completely disfigured her face. They were even suspecting it to be something related to tumour or may be cancer. She had not slept or eaten anything properly since 3 days in a row.
Why the delay?????
When asked about the delay to dentist visit , we got to know that patient had taken some over the counter pain killers from a near by medical shop which eased her pain for few days and then it kept on increasing and ultimately resulted in a huge swelling.
Examination at Clinic
The patient was thoroughly examined at Bhede Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Nagpur. The swelling on her face was extending from the left corner of lip till the left ear and from under her left eye to lower border of her jaw. It was of size of lemon and firm but very painful to touch. At first an OPG x-ray for her was taken and to surprise there was huge underlying bone lesion suggesting of long standing infection associated with a a small carious broken tooth. As this carious tooth was lying their for years without undergoing any treatment , it catches infection which borrowed down the underlying bone .
Immediate Treatment
We put her on Antibiotics and pain relievers for few days for swelling to subside however, within a day her husband called the clinic saying that the pain is unbearable now and also the swelling was not reducing.
Emergency treatment
We called her and the specialists to our Clinic immediately and did the procedure (Surgery) to remove the infected tooth and underlying Infection under local anaesthesia. The samples of the same were sent for testing in Pathology Laboratory . She was lucky that the Path reports were not much serious and were suggesting of deep long standing infection. But after the treatment was completely done , also it took several days for her swelling to go and be pain free completely.
Let’s find the reason behind :
Now you would be wondering what had caused such an emergency and why the swelling suddenly…… Well let me tell you the swelling and pain was not sudden but an outbreak of long time standing infection which the patient ignored since long by taking over the counter painkillers without proper medical guidance.
- She faced all this discomfort just due to one tiny fractured and completely broken tooth 10-12yrs back which she didn’t care to get treated. Soon with time the infection started spreading in underlying bone . It might have been slow process and she didn’t experience much pain and hence ignored it further. So this small broken fragment of tooth nurtured and acted as harbour for all kinds of microorganisms to grow and cause severe bone loss and Cyst in the underlying bone.
- She also gave history of intermittent pain for which she took over the contour painkillers easily available in Indian market . These painkillers suppress the body symptoms by reducing the inflammation and pain but they don’t treat the underlying disease. Hence it is recommended not to go for self medication .
Now let’s see if patient had further ignored the dental pain and swelling by taking over the counter medications, this huge infection would have spread borrowing her lower jaw bone. This would then have eventually weakened her lower jaw and this could have also resulted in fracture of the same. Also the infection would have spread to outer aspect making the treatment of the same more extensive and traumatic to patient.
Take A Way Points
- Now we know that prolonging any kind of pain be it dental or non dental by taking over the counter medication can be seriously fatal .
- Hence seek for experts help and don’t suppress the signs your body is showing you.
- Strict no to over the counter painkillers
- Visit your Dentist for regular Oral health Check Up.
Tags :
case study,oral health,regular checkup
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