Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Patients Find Relief
Also known as dead jaw, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) happens when someone has an exposed and blood starved jaw bone. Without treatment, the condition can be permanently disfiguring. In worst cases, ONJ can even threaten lives. Symptoms include loose teeth, draining pus, numbness or heaviness in the jaw, a foul taste in the mouth, and red, swollen gums.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw frequently causes agonizing pain for those who suffer with it. But now many patients are able to find relief and begin healing with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).
If you have these difficult symptoms and would like to learn if HBOT could help you recover, Dr. Allan Spiegel, MD at Neurological Solutions can offer you a personalized consultation. To schedule an appointment call 727-787-7077.
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Often, people first get ONJ after they’ve had a tooth pulled or other extensive dental surgery, such as a root canal.Especially when performed improperly, dental procedures can leave serious toxins in place that begin to break down teeth and gums. Yikes! And to make matters worse, small holes or lesions in the jaw can be invisible to x-ray. Luckily, ultra-sound can help oral surgeons pick up areas of dying or dead tissue.
People can get Osteonecrosis of the Jaw following radiation and other cancer treatments. It can also occur from taking steroids, getting a herpes or bone infection, or taking a medication for osteoporosis to slow down bone loss, such as Zometa or Fosamax.
Unfortunately, ONJ won’t improve with good oral hygiene. No amount of tooth brushing or flossing will help. Patients with ONJ can develop a hole in their jaw, or even find that bone breaks through the gums. Needless to say, ONJ can seriously impact a person’s ability to eat or even to talk. But one thing’s for sure – the effects of having the disease can feel frightening, painful and life changing.
The Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of ONJ:
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients sit or lie comfortably in an enclosed chamber. HBOT works by flooding the body with pure oxygen at higher than normal air pressures. This super-charged oxygen level brings vital nutrients to the jaw area, regenerating cells and beginning the formation of new blood vessels. It heals up the wound and stops further mouth tissue decay. ONJ patients often report that their pain subsides or even goes away completely after a course of treatment.
If you suffer from ONJ and would like to learn if hyperbaric oxygen therapy, together with other treatments, could help to ease your pain and begin healing, Dr. Allan Spiegel, MD at Neurological Solutions can offer you assistance. To schedule an appointment, click here now or call 727-787-7077.