Diagnosed with Ameloblastoma

Thank you very much for describing your situation. The fact that you had a lot of pain and it was rather unexplained was a good cause for you to investigate further. About three years ago, I had sensitive pain when i would drink fluids. Went in to get checked, they never found anything ie cavities. Fast forward to last week they found the radiolucency by accident. I still plan to see if i can take care of that molar whether it be a root canal or filling (likely root canal) and will monitor my options depending on what the dentist says. My hope is that it doesn't look like ameloblastoma to him and he wants me to monitor it. I'm guessing he will likely suggest biopsy and if so, i'll take it from there.

Welcome @charlesvalley!
I went to the dentist about 1 year prior to my diagnosis for normal cleaning and xrays. At the time, I mentioned some sensitivity to very hot or very cold foods, but was told to come back if it bothered me. Not really sure there was anything unusual on xray at that time, or if there was, the dentist didn't catch it. About a year later, I started experiencing really bad pain in that area with extreme hot or cold foods. Another dentist at the same practice took a panoramic xray and caught the radiolucency then. I was referred to the specialist. After waiting about a month to get in to see him, the specialist did his own imaging. He suggested that it was likely growing for a long time and had just recently begun pushing on the nerve below it. Obviously, the jaw was also expanding in both directions, but not quickly, so I didn't really pay any attention. At the specialist's recommendation, we did surgery to remove it and sent it for pathology. Pathology confirmed ameloblastoma, follicular type. He also did a bone graft to replace what had been displaced by the tumor. As I understand it, this was the conservative approach. The risk in doing the conservative treatment is that he may not have gotten it all. So, I'll be monitored frequently to watch for any reccurence. If it comes back, I've been told that I'd be referred to an oncologist. To date, I don't have any pain, though the teeth are still somewhat loose in that area. I'm supposed to return for another xray in October. I hope this gives you some insight into my journey and maybe even some hope that your own might not be as bad as the stories you've read!

Honestly the best thing to do is to take it slow and listen to your body as well as your mind. I also wanted to not let my emotions get to me but I think the best thing is balance make sure you also acknowledge the feelings and understand that it’s ok to be down when this journey is very complicated and it’s not expected of you to be ok each day you know? But I’m sure you’re strong to be on this journey.

Thank you for sharing that. Aw okay so the noticeable swelling etc prompted you to get it checked out, makes a lot of sense! Appreciate you sharing that and i hope you are doing well!

Thank you! I've read through many pages here and your journey as well as everyone else's here has been indeed unlike a lot! I appreciate your feedback. I'm trying to not get too emotional and take it day by day. I will go on Monday for a specialist and see what he recommends

My physical symptoms included noticeable swelling on the jaw, prolonged tiredness, fainting and just pain toward the end of the growth. I decided to go for the surgery because I wanted it to be gone completely and have healthy bone to live with.

Hi did you have any physical symptoms? Or did you proceed with surgery based on the findings alone? Thank you.

Hey, hope you’re doing well otherwise. Ameloblastoma is weird because it may grow aggressively internally but you can never really see it externally it doesn’t really get as swollen as the Google images😭in terms of my biopsy on the jaw it felt like a minor operation with slight pain and then as the tumour grew there was the expected pain and tiredness. Just take each day as it comes and make sure you make the choice that benefits you the most whether it’s surgically or medicinally!

Hi, any idea on how slow this thing can grow? I know from the small research i've done it can grow aggressively fast, but i wonder how slow.

Hi everyone. New here. I have a few questions. For most of you, did you get surgery or work done after discovering physically something, or via pain alone or via x ray?

I went in for a molar pain when i chew hard food. Thought it was a cavity. Dentist did x ray and panoramic x ray and found radiolucency. He said that it looked circular, soap shaped and was i think causing bone to become less dense or noticeable (didnt really understand). He wrote a referral to a specialist and the paper said: "Please evaluate #19 radiolucency, PDL not included, #19 RTC being treated, ameloblastoma?" The specialist i'll see him on Monday. He will likely do x ray and if he cant determine what it is, may ask for biopsy.

For those who have had a biopsy around jaw how is that? Granted it may be something else who knows.

I googled ameloblastoma and am pretty nervous. Can anyone tell me..is this usually really aggressive like once you have it it moves fast, or is it slow? I hadn't gone to the dentist in three years and to find this is scary. Lots of things running in my mind. Part of me already thinking of worse case scenarios..such as if they want to do biopsy i may ask if we can do routine x ray to monitor growth and then if it grows to do the biopsy. I really dont want to rush unless this thing grows out of hand!