Pain in the cheekbones: six causes

February 4, 2019

If the cheekbones on your face hurt, then this is a serious reason to think about your health and the lifestyle you lead. It is also necessary to pay attention to the nature and location of pain. In most cases, you will need to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. It is important to do this for the simple reason that the cheekbones are close to vital organs and systems, to the brain. Accordingly, any inflammatory process from here can very quickly move to other organs and pose a real threat to life.

And the editors of the portal UltraSmile.ru propose to consider the main reasons why discomfort in the zygomatic area of the face may bother you. But first, let's define the terminology.

For what reason can cheekbones hurt?

Cause of pain #1: dental disease

Painful sensations can be felt in the cheekbone even when there is ordinary caries or pulpitis, periodontitis, stomatitis or alveolitis resulting from tooth extraction. After all, all the organs of the maxillofacial apparatus are located dangerously close to each other.

The photo shows inflammation of the hole after tooth extraction, which can cause pain in the cheekbone

It’s worse when a simple dental disease remains untreated for a long time and the infection begins to spread further, reaching the zygomatic area of the face. Then your cheekbones may already hurt from a more serious pathology - osteomyelitis. The disease affects the bone tissue of the jaw, causing suppuration and necrosis, accompanied by a general deterioration in health, body temperature rises, and the face may become swollen and deformed.

“Osteomyelitis of the upper jaw is observed in medical practice much less frequently than the lower jaw. However, the disease is considered very dangerous because its untimely or incorrect treatment can lead to a broken jaw, sepsis, damage to internal organs, pulmonary failure, and phlegmon. Therefore, it must be treated surgically, additionally use anti-inflammatory therapy, antibiotics, treat neighboring organs affected by the pathological process and remove the affected teeth,” explains Tsorieva E.O., therapist, surgeon.

Osteomyelitis comes in different types: traumatic, radiation (occurs against the background of the appearance of malignant cancerous tumors), hematogenous (infection enters through the blood from neighboring affected organs). But most often the disease is odontogenic in nature, i.e. is a consequence of advanced caries, pulpitis and other dental problems.

Cause of pain No. 2: perforation of the bottom of the maxillary sinus

You will be interested to know that the cause of severe pain in the cheekbone area, wings of the nose, temples and eyes can be due to poor-quality or unprofessional tooth extraction, installation of implants in the upper jaw or due to poorly performed sinus lift (an operation to increase the missing volume bone tissue).

The fact is that such serious procedures can only be trusted to be performed by experienced doctors, whose experience in this field is confirmed by numerous official documentation and patient reviews. Otherwise, you risk encountering difficulties. Moreover, the longer you wait and do not get rid of the consequences of improper treatment, the more severe the complications will be:

sinus injury: after the loss of teeth in the upper jaw, the bottom of the maxillary sinuses gradually descends, because The jaw bone here is quite thin and, due to lack of load, begins to quickly atrophy; accordingly, there is always a risk of injuring the sinuses. For example, they can be damaged if the implant model is incorrectly selected, if the location of its installation in the bone is incorrectly determined, if preparation for treatment is not carried out thoroughly,
chronic sinusitis: inflammation in the sinus area is not in vain for the patient, and violation of work technique during osteoplastic surgery or dental implantation can lead to such consequences,
meningitis and infectious diseases of the brain, inflammation of the jaw bone, the occurrence of abscesses,
peri-implantitis, implant displacement and rejection.

Perforation of the floor of the maxillary sinus can cause this symptom

“Today, zygomatic dental implantation methods are gaining popularity. They allow patients without teeth, but with extreme atrophy of bone tissue in the upper jaw, to leave the clinic with a new smile in an extremely short time. The protocols involve the use of special models of implants that are installed directly into the zygomatic bone of the upper jaw. Work with them must be carried out with extreme caution and precision; the doctor must first plan all treatment in advance and work out possible risks. Otherwise, the patient has every chance of getting severe complications - damage not only to the zygomatic bone, but also to the maxillary sinus,” says Put V.A., 27 years of work experience, an implant surgeon who was one of the first in Russia to start using it in practice. zygomatic implantation.

Facial pain: causes, diagnosis, treatment

Pain in the facial area can be dull or sharp, short-term or chronic, affecting only one side of the face or both. But the reaction to this pain is always the same: the desire to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Facial pain can be caused by injuries, neuropsychiatric disorders and infectious and inflammatory diseases. We invite you to learn more about the most common sources of facial pain and common symptoms.

Tooth abscess

Anyone who has had to deal with a tooth abscess at least once in their life knows firsthand what unbearable, incessant pain is. A dental abscess is an acute inflammation caused by a bacterial infection in the pulp (the inner part of the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels). Most often, damage occurs due to advanced caries, gum disease or mechanical trauma to the tooth. The most common symptoms include: constant throbbing pain, swelling of the face, redness of the gums, unpleasant taste in the mouth, and increased body temperature. Remember that an abscess is a serious disease, so if you have the above signs, immediately contact your dentist, who will help you get rid of the pain and prevent complications from occurring.

Dry socket

After the removal of one of the permanent teeth, a blood clot forms in its place, which serves as a barrier to infection entering the wound and promotes its rapid healing. However, if the blood clot is not fully formed, disintegrated, or washed out, bone tissue and nerves are exposed, which can result in a painful condition called dry socket. The symptoms of a dry socket and an abscess are similar: severe pain, facial swelling, bad breath, and fever. If these symptoms appear, you should visit the dentist or surgeon who performed the tooth extraction.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) allows us to open and close our mouth. Anything that interferes with the normal functioning of the TMJ can cause facial pain. The causes of the disorder may be associated with involuntary clenching of the jaw and grinding of teeth, as well as malocclusion. Facial and TMJ pain often occurs as a result of arthritis, injury, and dislocation. If you notice any clicking, crunching, or pain when you move your jaw, visit your orthodontist as soon as possible. Drug therapy, physiotherapeutic treatment, massage and myogymnastics, wearing occlusive splints or mouthguards help solve the problem.

Headache

People who frequently experience headaches report that facial pain combined with a migraine or cluster headache can be very severe. Such pain usually affects one side of the head and face. Pain is usually concentrated around the eyes, although for migraine sufferers the pain may radiate to the teeth and jaw. For minor pain, over-the-counter pain relievers usually help, but if the pain gets worse, don't wait to see your doctor.

Sinusitis

Extensive facial pain, including dull pain in the upper jaw and teeth, can be caused by sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses). Other common symptoms of this condition include nasal congestion, pressure around the eyes and cheekbones, swelling of the cheeks or eyelids, ear pain, bad breath and fever. Inflammation with sinusitis often causes toothache, since the roots of the upper molars are adjacent to the bottom of the maxillary sinuses. Sinusitis can often be treated with regular cold and flu medications, but if symptoms persist, be sure to contact your primary care physician or ENT doctor.

Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (trigeminal neuralgia) is a chronic disease characterized by attacks of severe pain in the innervation areas of the trigeminal nerve, the largest cranial nerve that transmits sensory information from the face to the brain. Specialists at the Scientific Center for Neurology believe that trigeminal neuralgia most often occurs as a result of compression of part of the trigeminal nerve by blood vessels. As a result, even a light touch to the skin, for example, when applying makeup or while brushing your teeth, can provoke recurring pain attacks - from a slight tingling to extremely intense, shooting or stabbing pain. Injections, medications or surgery help relieve pain and prevent relapses of the disease.

Herpes zoster

Many of us had chickenpox (chickenpox) as children. After an illness, the virus remains latent in a person’s nerve fibers for many years, without causing any damage to his health. In the future, when the immune system is weakened or in old age, the virus may reactivate, which causes herpes zoster (shingles). The infection manifests itself in the form of rashes along the affected nerve endings. The patient begins to experience severe pain and a tingling sensation on one side of the body, headache and joint pain, fever and chills. Herpes zoster can also affect the nerves of the face, causing drooping eyelids, facial paralysis, changes in taste, blurred vision, or hearing loss. At the first signs, immediately consult a doctor who will help you alleviate the symptoms by prescribing a course of antiviral and potent anti-inflammatory drugs.

Since the causes of facial pain are very diverse in nature, the best way to get rid of problems is a comprehensive diagnosis of the disease. By carefully studying the symptoms, a therapist or dentist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and choose the most effective treatment tactics.

Cause of pain No. 3: arthritis or arthrosis

These diseases cause damage to the joints and inflammation of the cheekbone is no exception. What additional symptoms can you feel with these pathologies:

pain and spasms: with arthrosis, pain will only occur in response to irritating factors and physical activity. For example, when chewing food or when talking, when yawning and opening the mouth. With arthritis, it does not go away even in a calm state and often makes people nervous at night. Please note that in such cases not only the cheekbones will hurt, but also the jaws,
crunch: you can hear how your joints on your face begin to click and make characteristic sounds when you open your mouth,
Swelling: The affected area may be swollen, which will naturally affect your appearance. For example, in some cases there is facial deformation.

“My mother actually had this disease - arteritis, something like inflammation of the facial artery. It can easily be confused with arthritis or arthrosis, but it is completely different. And by the way, before she went to the doctor, she said for a long time that it hurt only on one side - the left cheekbone on her face. Only then did the pain begin to radiate to all parts of the face and nothing was clear: the eyes hurt, and the teeth, and the lower jaw, and the nose and around the lips. The doctor then said that it is very dangerous to ignore such a pathology, because it could end in a cerebral hemorrhage!”
Rita, 32top.ru

Joint problems can cause pain
If you have developed arthrosis or arthritis of the cheekbone, treatment may be carried out by a general practitioner, surgeon, orthopedist or rheumatologist. Ointments, injections, physiotherapy, and sets of gymnastic exercises aimed at strengthening joints and developing their elasticity help get rid of the problem. Also, during treatment, the patient must adjust the diet, avoiding too harsh foods, limit physical activity, and avoid stress and hypothermia.

Prevention

Any muscles, including facial ones, need to be kept in good shape. There are several simple but very effective exercises that will help strengthen your muscle corset. In addition, facial gymnastics contributes to the formation of correct diction and a beautiful voice.

Exercise one. Slowly, open your mouth wide. And just as slowly close it. For visual learners, it is enough to remember what the Nutcracker looks like.
Exercise two – moving the jaw forward, lips relaxed. Then we move the jaw left and right, trying to gradually draw a circle. A nice bonus is saying goodbye to your double chin.

The whole complex takes no more than 5-7 minutes. The result is strong muscles and no spasms in the cheekbones and jaw.

If you are concerned about involuntary contraction of your cheekbones, to eliminate risks, get examined by our specialists. You can make an appointment online on the clinic’s website. Or by number: +7 (812) 501-7-501, +7 (931) 322-0-955.

Cause of pain No. 4: neuralgic diseases

What pathologies can manifest themselves in this way:

damage to the ternary nerve: facial neuralgia almost always occurs against this background. After all, the ternary nerve carries impulses to all parts of our face and extends to the eye, maxillary and mandibular region. Damage to the triangular nerve can occur for a variety of reasons. Starting from an unhealthy lifestyle, the occurrence of constant colds and stress, ending with incorrect dental treatment, unprofessional installation of implants or traumatic tooth extraction,

Damage to the triangular nerve can occur for a variety of reasons.
Charlen's syndrome: the disease is also called neuralgia of the nasociliary junction. Here the pathology can be determined by the corners of the eyes. In them, patients usually feel particularly sore, which manifests itself even during the night hours of rest. When pressing on the corners of the eyes, the pain will intensify,
Sluder syndrome: the upper jaw always hurts here, mainly near the base of the nose. All this is accompanied by inflammation of the nasal mucosa, increased secretion of secretions, salivary fluid, and lacrimation. You can also replace facial swelling,
Frey's syndrome: pain is localized near the ears and temples,
neuralgia of the ear or facial nerve: pain in this case is almost always localized under the cheekbones and radiates to the head, and the patient experiences long-term, persistent migraines. In this case, your condition may worsen with the appearance of nausea, pain in the eyes, and tinnitus.

If you spend a long time at the computer in a sitting position, lead a sedentary lifestyle, spend little time in the fresh air, have a habit of propping your head up with your hand and holding the phone with your head, and also often experience nervous overstrain and stressful conditions, then the appearance of neuralgic diseases and disruption of natural blood circulation may well manifest itself as pain in the cheekbones.

In some cases, to diagnose the disease, you will have to do an MRI of the head.

For various types of neuralgia, be sure to consult a therapist or neurologist; you may also need the help of a surgeon or dentist; it would be good to undergo an MRI of the head and take a blood test. In addition to the prescribed course of treatment (depending on the pathology), physiotherapy, acupuncture, electrophoresis, and massage techniques will give a good effect.

Why does my cheekbone hurt?

Traumatic injuries

The most common injury to the zygomatic region is bruise.
Occurs in fights, less often when falling or hitting a hard surface (for example, a door frame). The pain is moderate and subsides quickly. Local swelling and hyperemia are observed, abrasions are possible. Opening the mouth is not difficult, speech is not changed. All symptoms disappear within a few days or 1-2 weeks. When the zygomatic bone is fractured, the pain is very sharp and intense. Bruising is detected, swelling quickly spreads to the adjacent parts of the face. There is pain when trying to open the mouth, numbness of part of the cheek, wing of the nose and upper lip, and sometimes diplopia. If the integrity of the maxillary sinus is violated, nosebleeds develop and subcutaneous emphysema is possible. When fragments are displaced, a step is felt in the cheekbone area.

The zygomatic bone participates in the formation of the orbital wall. If the bone wall of the orbit is damaged, along with the symptoms listed above, limited mobility of the eyeball, visual impairment, subcutaneous emphysema, exophthalmos or endophthalmos are detected. Orbital injuries can also be accompanied by double vision, strabismus, and in severe cases, blindness.

Osteomyelitis

Severe tugging, throbbing pain in the cheekbone may be a consequence of post-traumatic osteomyelitis. The disease develops after an open fracture, surgery on the zygomatic bone and nearby tissues. The wound becomes swollen, its edges turn red. Suppuration, intoxication, and general hyperthermia are observed. After opening the abscess, pain and inflammation subside, and a fistula tract forms in the wound area.

Neuralgia

Burning, shooting pain in the cheekbone, reminiscent of an electrical discharge, is characteristic of damage to the second branch of the trigeminal nerve. Pain sensations spread from the side of the face to the center, affecting the upper part of the cheek, upper jaw, upper lip, and nasal mucosa. Attacks of neuralgia last up to 2 minutes and are repeated several times, causing patients to freeze in place.

In patients with ganglionitis of the pterygopalatine ganglion, intense prosopalgia predominates in the area of the cheekbone, eye, hard palate and base of the nose, but the symptom is never clearly localized, since a large number of nerve branches causes the spread of pain to adjacent parts of the face, gums, teeth, and sometimes the back of the head, neck , temple and ear. A distinctive feature of the pathology is pronounced autonomic symptoms: lacrimation, hypersalivation, hyperemia and swelling of half the face.

Sometimes the cause of radiating pain in the cheekbone is ganglionitis of the geniculate ganglion, although for this variant of ganglioneuritis pain in the ear with irradiation to the back of the head, face and neck is more typical. Painful sensations are paroxysmal in nature, and in some patients they are combined with neuritis of the facial nerve.

Cheekbone pain

Muscle damage

In patients with bruxism, bilateral aching pain in the cheekbones is caused by overstrain of the masticatory muscles during repeated nightly episodes of teeth grinding. Drowsiness, headache, toothache, and soreness in the jaw area are possible. Chips, cracks, hyperesthesia and pathological abrasion of teeth are often observed. With myofascial syndrome, pain increases gradually and is a consequence of constant muscle tension when clenching the jaw against the background of overload, stressful situations, and neurotic disorders.

Dental pathologies

Irradiation into the cheekbone is observed when the upper premolars and molars are affected on the corresponding side. In some cases, the pain in the cheekbone is so pronounced that it prevails over the pain in the teeth. The symptom can be observed after tooth extraction, with alveolitis, pulpitis, periodontitis. With deep caries, it does not occur spontaneously and is associated with food entering the carious cavity.

Otolaryngological diseases

The maxillary sinus is located in the body of the maxillary bone. Its wall borders the zygomatic bone, which causes pain to spread to the cheekbone when this sinus is affected. The symptom appears in the following diseases:

Acute sinusitis.
There are bursting pains in the projection of the sinus, cheekbone, root of the nose and forehead, which intensify when palpated. Intoxication syndrome, fever, and nasal congestion are detected.
Aerosinusitis.
A similar localization of pain is observed with aerosinusitis (if the maxillary sinus is affected), but hyperthermia and intoxication occur only with secondary infection.
Acute pansinusitis.
A clear clinical picture is characteristic. Chills, febrile temperature, and severe intoxication occur. The general condition is serious. Pain from the cheek and cheekbone spreads to the eyebrows, orbits, crown and back of the head, sometimes extends to the lower jaw, is combined with a constant diffuse headache, and with a prolonged course is supplemented by progressive neurological disorders (insomnia, weakness, paresthesia).

In addition, acute bursting pain in the cheekbone is typical of one of the orbital complications of sinusitis - orbital osteoperiostitis. The spread of the inflammatory process to the lower outer wall of the orbit causes the involvement of the zygomatic bone. Along with the symptoms of sinusitis, significant swelling of the periorbital tissue, exophthalmos, displacement and limitation of eye mobility are detected.

Other reasons

Headaches with possible irradiation to the cheekbone are observed in diseases with a completely unclear etiology - cluster headaches and paroxysmal hemicrania. Sometimes the epicenter of pain in the cheekbone with spread to other areas is noted with atypical facial pain. Pain syndrome of psychogenic origin against the background of stress or overwork is formed in emotionally unstable, suspicious people. In some cases, the symptom is found in patients with hypochondria and occurs in delusional and hallucinatory disorders.

Cause of pain No. 6: injuries and jaw fractures

As a result of falls, accidents, fights, or playing hazardous sports, you can damage your jaw. Moreover, regardless of the location of the damage, you may be accompanied by a pain symptom that will radiate to the zygomatic region. You will also suffer from limited mobility of the maxillofacial apparatus, speech and facial expression disorders, and facial deformation. But usually, if similar circumstances happen in life, then you will definitely be aware of everything that is happening and will not look for the reasons why your cheekbones hurt.

Jaw injury may cause problems

We hope that regardless of the situation, if you experience any painful sensations that do not go away on their own, but only intensify, you will definitely consult a doctor!

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Comments

Could it be that my cheekbones hurt due to cancer? Part of my mother’s face, just in the cheekbone area, is a little swollen, I’m worried.

Marinochka (02/13/2019 at 07:47 pm) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (02/16/2019 at 08:07) Reply to comment

In your article I saw a comment from a doctor on zygomatic implantation. The method interested me very much, because... For a long time I was denied dental implantation in Saratov due to acute bone atrophy in the upper jaw. Many questions arise, one of them: at the moment I have a chronic runny nose, will sinusitis develop after zygomatic implantation?

Petrova T.S. (02/27/2019 at 14:50) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (03/02/2019 at 08:28) Reply to comment

Cheekbone hurts. What can you do on your own to alleviate the condition?

Air (03/06/2019 at 20:08) Reply to comment

Editorial staff of the portal UltraSmile.ru (03/11/2019 at 08:37) Reply to comment