E-Cigarette Explodes in Teen's Mouth, Damaging Jaw and Teeth

The health hazards of e-cigarettes and e-liquids are still being studied, but there's one thing we know for sure: e-cigarette devices can explode. 

A teenager found this out the hard way when he was seriously injured after an e-cigarette exploded in his mouth. The explosion broke his jaw and blew out his teeth. 

The 17-year-old boy arrived at the ER two hours after the incident. He suffered extensive injuries to his mouth, including a broken lower jaw and several missing teeth. Several teeth also had to be removed because their sockets were destroyed. A dental plate was also placed under his lower gums to stabilize the jawbone.

Because his mouth still wasn't closing properly, doctors had to wire his jaw shut for six weeks in order for it to heal.

The teen still has missing teeth, as lack of insurance has prevented him from getting replacements. He's hoping to get new teeth before the summer's end. He has quit using e-cigarettes since the incident.

Doctors are hoping that the case educates the public and health care providers about the risks of these devices. 

This isn't the first time an e-cigarette has exploded and caused serious injury. Earlier in the year, a 24-year-old from Texas died after a vape pen exploded in his face and severed a major artery in his neck.

A Florida man was found dead in his home after his e-cigarette exploded during use and sent a projectile into his head, killing him in the process.

While rare, the explosions are very dangerous, and their exact cause is still unknown. According to George T. Bochanis Law Offices, 25% of high school students reported using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, in 2018. Another 2018 study found that more than 2,000 e-cigarette explosions and burn injuries put users in U.S. hospital ERs between 2015 and 2017.

Teenagers have reported burns and injuries from e-cigarette explosions. Two years ago, there was a report of an Oregon teen who lost his eye when his vape exploded. Another 17-year-old suffered burns across her arms, chest and hands after her vape exploded and her clothes caught fire.

A letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2016 described 15 patients who suffered e-cigarette explosions in less than a year. The majority of the accidents involved flame burns, and 30% of the patients suffered "blast injuries." The burns required skin grafts and wound care, according to doctors.