A dental cyst is a pathological cavity that forms a kind of pouch next to the teeth, accumulating bacteria and dead cells in the form of liquid or other organic substance.
They can form in different areas of the mouth and tend to grow over time, if not properly treated, they can cause the loss of teeth or progress to even more worrying situations in your mouth.
Most cysts develop due to an infection at the root of the tooth, but there are other types of dental / jaw cysts, and it is essential to make the diagnosis in order to define the most appropriate treatment plan.
Although most cysts located in the tooth structure are benign, some cysts are very aggressive, leading to the belief that some subtypes may be potentially malignant.
To proceed with the treatment, surgery is used, whether or not it is necessary to remove the tooth affected by the cyst.
How to detect that you need Cysts Removal? What are the symptoms?
Most of the time, the cysts grow slowly and do not cause pain, making their identification difficult. They are usually detected on radiographs or check-up visits.
This is a silent problem that can cause irreversible damage to your mouth. To avoid the consequences, know how to recognize, treat and avoid it.
The best way to control the situation is through regular visits to the dentist for routine visits. However, if the cyst is already at a more advanced stage, some symptoms are:
- Local pain
- Swelling of the gums
- Fever and headaches
- Wounds in the oral region
- Numbness
- Displacement of teeth
- Inflamed tongue and cheeks, with white or red spots
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing
- Voice changes
- Deformity on the face
What are the causes of dental cysts?
The causes for the appearance of this problem are not easily identified, however
there are 4 main reasons:
1) Infections: Infections, even if they occur in other areas of the body (nose,
throat), may be the source of cysts. Low immunity, stress or elevated
physical / mental exhaustion represent risk factors that can enhance this
problem.
2) Incorrect tooth growth: Defective tooth development, for example, the included teeth (which are not completely born), can be also an explanation.
3) Unsuccessful dental procedures: Cysts can also arise due to poorly performed procedures in clinic, for example, a devitalization poorly done.
4) Genetics: Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is an example.
Cysts Removal
The removal of dental cysts requires the intervention of oral surgery. If the origin of the cyst is an embedded tooth, it may have to be removed. If the dentist considers tooth eruption possible, only partial removal of the cyst is performed.
Another procedure is to drain the liquid from the cyst, which decreases the pressure inside it, without removing it.
In cases where the infection is located at the tip of the tooth root, devitalization of the tooth may be the solution. If the infection continues, the cyst should be removed surgically.
