The severity of the problem depends on how severely an individual is affected by the disease. Some patients first go to their doctor or dentist because of problems with loose teeth. Doctors treating Cherubism watch the growth of the disease around the eyes very carefully. The disease around the eye is monitored by x-ray and CT scans. Surgery is sometimes needed to protect the eye from damage.
Every case needs to be treated individually.
Cherubism is a genetic disease and therefore can be passed on to one's children whereas GCGJ is not. Most GCGJ do not do a lot of damage to the jaw but in some rare cases they can be very destructive and behave more like Cherubism. However, the cases, which have been monitored carefully, show that treatment of Cherubism with these drugs has no obvious benefit. It is not a familial disease. Problems arise in separating these diseases when fibrous dysplasia only affects the jaw.