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For patients
On this page, we explain in simple terms what silent inflammation in the jawbone is about — and which questions you can ask at a practice.
Important notice: This page is intended for your information. It does not replace medical advice and does not promise a cure. A diagnosis can only ever be made in a practice — following a personal examination and evaluation of your findings. Please do not discontinue ongoing treatments on your own, and discuss any changes with your doctor.
Tab: Silent inflammation
The starting point
“Diseased tooth = diseased person”
Many people live with symptoms for which no clear cause can be found. They have seen several specialists, the findings are unremarkable — and the symptoms persist.
In such cases, Maxillo-mandibular Osteoimmunology looks at the jawbone. The idea behind it is simple: a persistently inflamed area in the jaw can place a burden on the body, even if it does not cause any pain itself.
The distinction is important: a short-term infection — such as a cold or an acute dental inflammation — usually heals and leaves no lasting burden. This is about chronic, i.e. long-lasting, conditions. Examples mentioned in this context include cardiac arrhythmias, arthritis, rheumatism, atopic dermatitis and migraine.
Tab: Clinical pictures
Explained
What is silent inflammation?
Acute inflammation is usually recognisable immediately: it hurts, and the area is red and swollen. Silent inflammation behaves differently.
No redness, no swelling
Unlike acute inflammation, it does not manifest itself through redness or swelling. It develops invisibly in the jawbone.
The body remains on alert
The body and immune system are thrown permanently out of balance because the burden does not subside.
Early signs are non-specific
Sleep disturbances and increased susceptibility to infection may be early indications — but both have many possible causes.
Tab: Technical terms
Associations under discussion
Silent inflammation as a risk factor for diseases of civilisation
For the following conditions, silent inflammation is being discussed as a risk factor. This does not mean that silent inflammation causes these diseases — research on this is ongoing.
Obesity
Arteriosclerosis
Autoimmune diseases
Chronic pain
Type 2 diabetes
Facial pain / trigeminal neuralgia
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Cancers
Chronic tiredness / Chronic Fatigue
Please regard this list as an overview of associations under professional discussion, not as a diagnosis and not as a statement about your individual case. Whether such an association exists in your case can only be clarified by an examination in a practice.
Tab: Causes
Technical terms
Two abbreviations you will hear
Two terms come up again and again in findings and consultations. Here they are explained in simple words.
FDOK
Fatty degenerative osteonecrosis of the jawbone
This refers to an area in the jawbone in which the solid bone tissue has receded and soft, fatty altered tissue has formed. Nothing of this is visible from the outside.
NICO
Neuralgia Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis
A special form of FDOK in which nerve-related facial pain also occurs. The pain may be felt in a different place from where the finding is located.
Common causes according to ICOSIM
Root canal treatments
A root-canal-treated tooth may remain inconspicuous for years and yet be the source of silent inflammation.
Removal of a wisdom tooth
The area from which a wisdom tooth has been removed does not always heal completely.
Metal implants
Metal implants are also regarded as a possible trigger and are included in the diagnostic assessment.
Tab: Find a practice
Next step
Questions for the association
A diagnosis and treatment can only ever take place in a practice. If you have questions about the specialist field or about the association, you can reach ICOSIM e.V. using the details below.
No individual advice
Please note: the association may not provide individual medical advice or assess findings. For this, please consult a practice.
Read more
If you would like to know more
In the Science Corner you will find the scientific foundations on which this page is based — including the publications and the diagnostics.