Keep your chin up!

A prominant chin is something many in Hollywood would dream of having, and some might even consider a chin implant to get that much desired look. Mr. Wiggly the cat, however, wanted none of that, and his chin swelling was secondary to an abscessed fractured tooth. Fractures of teeth that are deep enough to extend into the inner portion of a tooth (i.e., pulp) are a direct pathway for bacteria and subsequent infection. In this case, the chronic infection resulted in destruction of the bone surrounding the tooth root and chin. In severe cases such as Mr. Wiggly, extraction of the affected tooth is the only reasonable therapy and will achieve excellent results; whereas less severe cases are best treated by root canal therapy.