All facial bones except the mandible and vomer are in pairs. Bones in the jaw include the lower jaw, or mandible and the upper jaw or maxilla. The maxillae join at the center of the front of the face to provide a base for the upper teeth. The mandible provides a floor for the lower teeth and is the only movable facial bone, according to MedicaLook. There are many causes of pain in the jawbones.
Broken Jaw
A broken jaw differs from a dislocated jaw. A dislocated jawbone is one moved out of its proper location, but is still intact. A broken jaw sustains an actual break in the bone. Symptoms of a broken or fractured jaw include facial bruising and swelling, limited jaw movement, bleeding from the mouth and jaw pain that worsens with biting or chewing. A broken jaw is a medical emergency and requires immediate intervention to reduce or prevent breathing difficulties and to control bleeding. Expect moderate to severe fractures to require surgery and take six to eight weeks to heal enough to remove the stabilizing wires, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Causes of a broken jaw include accidents, assault and sports injuries.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a bacterial infection in the center of a tooth that results in a collection of pus, as stated by Medline Plus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health. Causes of an abscessed tooth include tooth decay or a broken or chipped tooth that allows bacteria to reach the inside of the tooth. Once the infection sets in, the tissues within the tooth swell and cause pain. Treatment of a dental abscess includes antibiotics to control the infection, pain relievers and possibly surgery to drain the abscess. A complication of an unresolved dental abscess is the spread of the infection into the jawbone, which often requires surgery to remove the infected portion of the bone.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
Osteonecrosis is a disorder of the jaw caused by temporary or permanent blood loss and exposure of the jawbone. Symptoms include pus discharge and pain that occur after radiation therapy to the head and neck, trauma or a tooth extraction, as reported by Merck Manuals. Treatment of jaw osteonecrosis involves antibiotics and scraping away as much of the damaged bone as possible.
Cysts and Tumors
Cysts and tumors are causes of bone pain in the jaw. A tumor, or an overgrowth of cells, and a cyst, or a fluid-filled pocket of tissue, can form on facial and maxillary bones. The most common location, according to New York-Presbyterian, is the lower jawbone. Types of benign tumors and cysts of the jaw include odontogenic, which is the growth of the follicle of an impacted tooth that cannot erupt; odontogenic keratocyte, usually located in the mandible; and two types of benign non-odontogenic cysts--traumatic and aneurismal cysts. Cancerous tumors of the jaw are primary--originating in the jaw, or secondary--spread from another part of the body to the jaw. Treatment usually consists of removal of the cyst or tumor and followup to treat any malignancy or to observe for recurrence.
