What is a Mouth Cyst?

There are various different kinds of cysts that can develop in the mouth, but most are characterised by a small fluid-filled pouch that forms underneath the soft tissue, usually around the gums or the inside of the cheeks. Cysts can also appear in other areas of the mouth, such as the throat and glands, on or behind the lips, and even in the jawbone. When they first appear, most cysts are not hugely uncomfortable, but they do point to an underlying problem that needs treating as soon as possible, as they can quickly develop into a more painful ailment – particularly if they become infected or grow into an abscess. It’s fairly common to confuse abscesses and cysts; the main difference between the two is that cysts aren’t necessarily infected right away, in fact, they can lay dormant and pain-free for long periods of time, whereas abscesses develop as a result of infection, as the body tries to flush away dead cells and toxic fluid. Abscesses are a sign of active infection; cysts are small swellings that don’t contain foreign bacteria.

Cysts that appear on the outside of the skin are easier to deal with than ones that form inside the bone structure, but the majority of them don’t pose too great a risk to your health. In some cases, it may be necessary for the dentist to perform a biopsy – remove a small piece of tissue for examination – just to make sure there are no cancerous cells inside or around the swelling. Cancer is generally a word that terrifies a lot of people, but it’s worth noting that most cysts are benign, and the dentist is only going to carry out a biopsy if the situation doesn’t seem to be improving, in order to rule out certain conditions. If you are worried about a cyst that has appeared in your mouth, call the Pearl Dental Clinic, for helpful advice and the very best in customer service; make an appointment today, and the friendly team members will be able to start any necessary treatment as soon as possible.

Are all cysts the same?

No, not all cysts are the same, where they develop in the mouth affects what kind of cyst appears. The most common type is called a periapical cyst, which grow inside the tooth, generally as a result of dental caries. Even at the centre of the tooth structure, cysts are not necessarily infected or severely painful, but there is a real danger that infection can set in, which could lead to an abscess forming; when this happens, the only option is to perform a root canal procedure, because the pulp chamber has become infected and has to be removed to prevent further problems. Despite the fact these swellings are not particularly harmful in the earlier stages, most dentists would recommend draining and cleaning the tissue, so that the cysts don’t spread to the surrounding areas and damage neighbouring teeth or the supporting alveolar bone. If you are familiar with abscesses, you will know that a periapical abscess is a similar affliction, but it is filled with infected fluid and bacterial debris, and needs to be removed as soon as it becomes apparent, as periapical abscesses are more problematic than periapical cysts.

A mouth cyst that forms in the jaw bone is called an odontogenic – referring to the formation of the teeth under the gums, this kind of cyst is not painful in its natural form, but it can become a serious problem if it succumbs to infection. It’s sometimes hard to spot odontogenic cysts without an x-ray, because they are embedding beneath the bone; the only way they will become apparent is if they become painful and infected, or they start to swell up and change the shape of the jaw from the outside. This represents some difficulty for the dentist, as far as removing the cyst is concerned, due to the fact that their size can significantly weaken the surrounding bone; excavating a large portion of the structural area would leave the jaw vulnerable to damage and deterioration. In some cases, it is a good idea to perform a bone graft, to strengthen what remains of the bone, but this is unnecessary if the cyst can be removed before it becomes too large.

Some harmless cysts can form in other areas of the mouth, mainly as a result of minor injury or irritation, such as biting the lip or inside of the cheeks. These small swellings don’t normally require any treatment, and should heal in their own time, without causing too much discomfort. However, they can occasionally grow quite big, and should be drained before they spread or damage nearby teeth, especially if they become painful.

 How are mouth cysts removed?

Mouth cysts need to be removed if they become uncomfortable, inflamed, infected, or they pose some risk to the teeth, just by their size; the dentist will perform the procedure under local anaesthetic, so the patient will remain conscious throughout treatment. When the anaesthetic has taken affect, the fluid will be drained from the cyst and the area cleaned with anti-bacterial agent, to prevent the problem from re-occurring. Unfortunately, cysts have a tendency to return, once they have been removed, so it’s important that the patient returns for follow-up treatment, after the initial procedure. If there are underlying issues that are causing the cysts to form, these will have to be dealt with, to successfully treat swellings that reappear.

As mentioned earlier, larger cysts may require a bone graft of some kind, due to the damage they leave behind when they are removed. The jaw bone needs to be intact and stable if it is to cope with the daily pressures of biting and chewing, so it’s important to maintain structural integrity, otherwise it will not function correctly. A graft is usually taken from the hip bone, as it is the thickest bone in the human body, and then it is surgically attached to what remains of the jaw. The healing process can take several months, depending on the original condition of the bone, but it is a necessary part of the treatment, which will be performed under general anaesthetic, due to the operations surgical nature.