A HEALTHY 78-year-old man went to his dentist with a wobbly lower left pre-molar, hoping for a quick fix.
After evaluating the situation, the dentist decided the best course of action was to remove the tooth entirely to stop any further pain.
However, in the days and weeks following the extraction, the man's jaw began to swell.
Concerned, he returned for a follow-up, which led to a CT scan revealing a lesion in his jaw.
Further tests confirmed it was metastatic prostate cancer, a condition where prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
"Prostate cancer, like many other cancers, can metastasize to the jaw," Dr Andrej Bozic, an oral surgeon at Dentum, told Sun Health.
"This is because the jawbone has a rich blood supply and active bone marrow, making it a favourable site for metastatic cancer cells to settle and grow."
Metastatic prostate cancer is relatively rare in the jaw, but when it does occur, it's usually a sign that the cancer has spread widely.
Symptoms of jaw metastases can be subtle and often mimic more common dental problems - which can make it harder for dentists to detect more serious underlying conditions.
"Patients may experience symptoms such as persistent swelling in the jaw, pain, loose teeth without an obvious cause, or delayed healing after dental extractions," Dr Bozic explained.
He said people may also notice "numbness or tingling in the jaw, which can signal nerve involvement".
In this case, the swelling that followed the man's tooth removal was a crucial clue.
Writing in the Australian Dental Journal, experts emphasised how important it is for dentists to recognise when dental problems don't resolve as expected.
"This is especially the case in older patients or those with a history of cancer, as these signs might indicate a deeper underlying issue," Dr Bozic added.
"Early recognition and diagnosis can be lifesaving in cases like these, even though jaw metastases often signify advanced disease."
If dental treatments aren't working as expected or you notice something unusual, it's really important to get checked out right away.
That could mean some imaging or even a biopsy - when doctors take a small tissue sample to test - to get to the bottom of things.
Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, and the most common in men.
Around 12,000 people lose their lives to the disease annually in the UK, and almost 400,000 around the world.
Symptoms can include difficulty urinating, frequent urination (especially at night), and blood in the urine.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for better outcomes, which is why it's important to pay attention to any unusual signs, both for dental and medical health.