Cavitations
Found under a series of names, such as NICO (Neuralgia-Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis )and Alveolar Cavitational Osteopathy, a cavitation is a hole within the upper or lower jaw bone. This hole is roughly the size and shape of the root that once occupied that space in bone, because that was its origin. It is an area of incomplete healing.
Periodontal ligament is a group of fibers, half of which originate within the tooth, and the other half from the bone surrounding the tooth. When a tooth has a root canal, or is in a dying state, bacteria within the tooth produce very strong chemicals that are highly neurotoxic and kill many critical enzymes within the body. When the tooth is removed, and the ligament left in place (normal procedure) these chemicals remain within the ligament and can slowly seep into the body, potentially creating disease states.
If a tooth is removed and the ligament is left in place, a cap of two or three millimeters of bone heals over the top of the socket, leaving a cesspool of these chemicals lining the hole, and sealed within the bone. X-ray has a hard time identifying these areas, for one is taking a picture of a piece of air within bone.
After the tooth is removed, or years later when the cavitation is being cleaned, the walls of the socket must be cut out with a dental burr. Just scraping it out (curetting is the term) pushes the toxins into the lymphatic drainage system, and patients frequently become ill from several days without knowing why.
Recent research by Dr. Boyd Haley shows All cavitation tissue samples tested contain toxins which significantly inhibit one or more of five basic body enzymes necessary in the energy production cycle. These small chemical toxins, metabolic waste products (most likely from anaerobic bacteria) may produce significant systemic effects, as well as play an important role in the localized disease process which negatively affects the blood supply in the jawbone. There are indications that when these toxins combine with chemicals or heavy metals, such as fluoride or mercury, that more potent toxins may be formed
Pain
The pain in this disease can be produced by a variety of factors, such as ischemia of the nerves, fluid or gasseous pressures on the nerves, distended blood vessels, inflammatory mediators, damage to the nerves from chronic exposure to the toxins of dead or inflamed tissues. It should not be surprising, then that a variety of types of pain occur. Most patients feel a deep ache or sharp pain deep in the bone. This is often difficult to localize and may, in fact, move about from day to day or week to week (remember, the disease is a fluid/pressure phenomenon with small infarctions occurring over time). Pain episodes may be separated by days or weeks with out pain. Another common pain type is a very sharp, lacerating pain shooting up to the eye or along the edge of the nose or back to the ear, Perhaps with temporary secondary pain in those sites. This pain may not may not be triggered by touching a certain part of the alveolar bone or overlying facial skin. Some patients describe their deep pain as "annoying" or "uncomfortable" rather than true pain, but these generally will go on to more severe pain over time.
Treatment
The recommended treatment for cavitational lesions is surgical removal. The surgery itself consists of making an incision into the suspect area, exposing the bony defects, and debriding (scraping) the lesion to remove all the unhealthy bone. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a non vital ( dead) or root canal tooth to gain access to the lesion. If, after the surgical debridement, excessive bone had been removed, bone regeneration techniques are implemented to help the body rebuild the bony matrix of the jaw. The area is then sutured with special sutures to help prevent bacterial growth.
Following surgery, vitamin and mineral therapy can assist with the healing and removal of toxic materials and bacteria that may accompany these lesions. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed as well as continuation of appropriate supplements that were begun prior to surgery.
Patients usually experience some tenderness or soreness in the area of surgery , but most often do not experience intense pain. There may be some swelling along with occasional black and blue markings (blood leaking into the surrounding tissues). Sometimes, general achiness is reported but most patients, after surgery, do fairly well.
As one might expect disease that could be a sign of an underlying systemic disorder, cavitations or NICO lesions have a tendency to recur or develop in additional jawbone sites, and may require a repetition of the surgical procedure.
Periodontal ligament is a group of fibers, half of which originate within the tooth, and the other half from the bone surrounding the tooth. When a tooth has a root canal, or is in a dying state, bacteria within the tooth produce very strong chemicals that are highly neurotoxic and kill many critical enzymes within the body. When the tooth is removed, and the ligament left in place (normal procedure) these chemicals remain within the ligament and can slowly seep into the body, potentially creating disease states.
If a tooth is removed and the ligament is left in place, a cap of two or three millimeters of bone heals over the top of the socket, leaving a cesspool of these chemicals lining the hole, and sealed within the bone. X-ray has a hard time identifying these areas, for one is taking a picture of a piece of air within bone.
After the tooth is removed, or years later when the cavitation is being cleaned, the walls of the socket must be cut out with a dental burr. Just scraping it out (curetting is the term) pushes the toxins into the lymphatic drainage system, and patients frequently become ill from several days without knowing why.
Recent research by Dr. Boyd Haley shows All cavitation tissue samples tested contain toxins which significantly inhibit one or more of five basic body enzymes necessary in the energy production cycle. These small chemical toxins, metabolic waste products (most likely from anaerobic bacteria) may produce significant systemic effects, as well as play an important role in the localized disease process which negatively affects the blood supply in the jawbone. There are indications that when these toxins combine with chemicals or heavy metals, such as fluoride or mercury, that more potent toxins may be formed
Pain
The pain in this disease can be produced by a variety of factors, such as ischemia of the nerves, fluid or gasseous pressures on the nerves, distended blood vessels, inflammatory mediators, damage to the nerves from chronic exposure to the toxins of dead or inflamed tissues. It should not be surprising, then that a variety of types of pain occur. Most patients feel a deep ache or sharp pain deep in the bone. This is often difficult to localize and may, in fact, move about from day to day or week to week (remember, the disease is a fluid/pressure phenomenon with small infarctions occurring over time). Pain episodes may be separated by days or weeks with out pain. Another common pain type is a very sharp, lacerating pain shooting up to the eye or along the edge of the nose or back to the ear, Perhaps with temporary secondary pain in those sites. This pain may not may not be triggered by touching a certain part of the alveolar bone or overlying facial skin. Some patients describe their deep pain as "annoying" or "uncomfortable" rather than true pain, but these generally will go on to more severe pain over time.
Treatment
The recommended treatment for cavitational lesions is surgical removal. The surgery itself consists of making an incision into the suspect area, exposing the bony defects, and debriding (scraping) the lesion to remove all the unhealthy bone. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a non vital ( dead) or root canal tooth to gain access to the lesion. If, after the surgical debridement, excessive bone had been removed, bone regeneration techniques are implemented to help the body rebuild the bony matrix of the jaw. The area is then sutured with special sutures to help prevent bacterial growth.
Following surgery, vitamin and mineral therapy can assist with the healing and removal of toxic materials and bacteria that may accompany these lesions. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed as well as continuation of appropriate supplements that were begun prior to surgery.
Patients usually experience some tenderness or soreness in the area of surgery , but most often do not experience intense pain. There may be some swelling along with occasional black and blue markings (blood leaking into the surrounding tissues). Sometimes, general achiness is reported but most patients, after surgery, do fairly well.
As one might expect disease that could be a sign of an underlying systemic disorder, cavitations or NICO lesions have a tendency to recur or develop in additional jawbone sites, and may require a repetition of the surgical procedure.
