Dentists fix cysts by surgically removing them (enucleation), draining and allowing them to shrink (marsupialization/decompression), or through root canal therapy if related to a dead tooth, sometimes extracting the tooth if necessary. Treatment depends on the cyst's size and location, aiming to remove the sac lining and allow bone to fill the space, often using local anesthesia, with larger or complex cases needing oral surgeons and CT scans for detailed planning.
Cyst removal can usually be done under local anaesthesia and will not cause pain to most people. Usually, a cyst can be removed with a simple surgical procedure.
Most odontogenic cysts are removed through surgery. If the cysts develop inside the soft tissues of the mouth, a tissue surgery is performed, but if the cysts form inside the jaw bone, a bone surgery is performed to remove the cyst.
It's not cancerous, but it can grow large enough to damage nearby teeth. Left untreated, a dentigerous cyst can cause complications like infections, tooth loss and jaw fractures.
Recovery time after cyst removal can vary. Small cysts that don't need stitches usually heal in a few days to a couple of weeks. Larger cysts with bigger cuts may take several weeks or even months to fully heal.
Cyst removal is not typically painful. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area where the surgeon is cutting. The most painful part of cyst removal is the injection of the local anesthetic. Most people have gotten shots of local anesthetic before at the dentist's office.
Specialists have identified two main causes of dental cysts: infections and accidents. Dental cysts caused by an infection can form when a cavity is poorly treated or a tooth dies. In such situations, bacteria can proliferate in the root canal and cause a bone infection.
Sometimes, cysts or growths form in the jaw area, called odontogenic tumors, but most often, these tumors are benign (noncancerous). Malignant (cancerous) tumors are estimated to account for between 1 percent and 6 percent of all odontogenic tumors, according to the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Oral mucoceles, sometimes known as oral mucous cysts, are painless blisters that occur on the surface of the mouth. These cysts often appear clear or blue in color while smooth and round in shape. They commonly develop on the lower lip's inner surface, inside the cheeks, and the bottom surface of the tongue.
These cysts, when untreated, cause serious complications, including intense pain, discomfort, and permanent damage to healthy teeth. Such complications often alter the appearance of a smile. Dental cysts grow slowly over several months or years, usually without symptoms.
Treatment of a dental cyst without removing it is considered possible and advisable in the early stages. Important aspects are the size of the cyst and the extent of damage to surrounding tissue. For example, a dental canal cyst or a molar cyst can be effectively eliminated with endodontic treatment.
Cysts are generally considered harmless, but they can give rise to specific issues, including; Pain and discomfort: They may cause pain, mainly if they are large or located in an area that frequently experiences irritation, such as the lip. Infection: Mucous cysts can become infected, especially if they rupture.
Most people can go back to work and most activities anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Your doctor will let you know what to expect. Until you have completely healed, you will need to avoid strenuous exercise and activities that require long periods of sitting.
Root canals are famous for being one of the most feared dental procedures. The treatment involves removing infected pulp from inside the tooth to save it from extraction. Why It Hurts: Infection or inflammation in the tooth can amplify pain.
Drainage typically leaves minimal scarring as it requires only a small incision, while surgical removal may result in a more noticeable scar depending on the size and location of the cyst.
While some small cysts may resolve with good oral hygiene, most require professional treatment. Without proper intervention, persistent cysts may lead to complications such as infection, tooth displacement, abscesses, and bone damage.
Epidemiology
You might also notice swelling, redness, fever, tenderness, or a bad taste if pus drains. Cysts, however, are often painless in the beginning. They usually only cause discomfort if they grow large or become infected. A dental abscess is an active infection full of pus and involves infected and swollen tissue.
Most cysts are benign. Tumors and neoplasms can be benign or malignant. Cysts are sacs or pouches filled with air, fluid, pus, or tissue. Tumors and neoplasms are made up of abnormal cells.
Cysts that appear uniform after an ultrasound exam or a CT scan are almost always benign and should simply be watched. If the cyst has solid components, it may be benign or malignant and should have further evaluation. Often this is done with repeat imaging to see if the cyst grows over time.
On or around the mouth, mucous cysts can result from lip or cheek biting, piercings, poor dental hygiene and other causes. Mucous cysts that occur on the hands or fingers are often a side effect due to osteoarthritis.
The most serious of these is oral cancer. The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth: Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth. A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.
It is best to seek treatment for a dental cyst as soon as you are aware of it. While they are typically benign, there may be a dental or oral health cause behind it that should be treated.
Dental Cyst Removal Recovery Time
Since it is a minor surgical procedure Recovery time is faster usually just a couple of days. That's how long it takes for the site to heal and for the numbness to disappear.
A dental cyst is a closed-off cavity filled with semi-solid or liquid material. Cysts commonly establish themselves in the soft tissues of the mouth & face such as the gums, lips and even in the space surrounding a tooth that has yet to emerge from the jaw bone.