THE dental cysts These are benign lesions that form in the gumline and usually do not cause symptoms. It is important detect and treat early to prevent them from causing complications such as bone destruction or tooth loss.
He Dr Oscar Castro Reinopresident of the General Council of Dentists of Spain, explains its causes and how they are treated.
Types of dental cysts and causes
Not all dental cysts are the same. Two can be distinguished types according to their origin:
Developmental cysts of a tooth
“The main cause of this type of cysts is the retention of a dental piecesays Dr. Castro.
- Have small space (for example in the case of wisdom teeth) for the new tooth to come out normally is a risk factor for the appearance of this type of cyst.
Inflammatory or infectious cysts
They usually appear because of a Infectious process.
- factors like trauma or cavities They can cause infection or inflammation that eventually generates a dental cyst.
Symptoms of dental cysts
“He the discovery of dental cysts is usually accidentalfor example, in a radiological examination or when symptoms appearsays Dr. Castro.
Dental cysts can appear anywhere in the jawbone and, although often no symptoms (especially in the beginning), in some cases the person may notice a lump in the gum what can cause pain or swellingand even present sores.
- I could also have lip tenderness.
- We can note some jaw pressure.
- Surrounding teeth are visible moved or can move.
If not detected and treated in time, cysts can develop, destroy the bone surrounding areas and invade nearby structures. “They can cause the tooth loss cause, and even adjacent roomswarns Dr. Castro.
“It suits go to the dentist for examination at least once a year and immediately upon the appearance of any unusual sign or symptom“, he underlines.
How is a cyst treated?
dental cysts they do not resolve. “It should always be the dentist, on an individual basis, who must decide whether to wait under observation or the procedure“explains the doctor.
If the affected tooth can be preserved and the cyst is small, it is usually resolved with a endodontics.
- Endodontics consists of extract dental pulp and “emptying” the tooth to fill it later with a biocompatible material. It is applied in case of trauma or deep cavities and in this way the inflammation is resolved while the tooth is preserved.
If the dental cyst is large, “he the treatment is always surgical“, explains the specialist.
- Depending on the extent of the cyst, the procedure may be very simple or it may be necessary to fill the resulting cavity with bone grafts.
Prevent its occurrence
We cannot avoid the appearance of all cysts, but certain measures can help us to avoid, above all, inflammatory or infectious cysts.
- keep one good oral hygiene Helps reduce the risk of infections. This includes brushing teeth with a fluoride paste at least twice a day for two minutes, also brushing teeth and gums and flossing daily.
- do it annual reviews This will help us prevent the cyst from increasing in size and leading to bone problems or tooth loss.
