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Dental and Oral Cysts: Everything to Know About These Benign Growths
Oral cysts are growths that are usually benign but require medical attention. Among them, the dental cyst is the most common. Developing from a tooth, it often goes unnoticed before being detected by a radiological examination. Discover the causes, symptoms, and treatments of these little-known pathologies.
What Exactly is a Dental Cyst?
A dental cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms in the jawbone, most often at the tip of an infected tooth's root. It has a round or oval shape and its size is variable but generally less than 1 cm.
It is a benign odontogenic tumor, meaning it develops from the tissues that surround the tooth during its formation. The cyst grows slowly and can reach several centimeters in diameter if not treated.
What Causes a Dental Cyst?
Cysts can have two origins:
- Congenital: The cyst is present from birth or related to tooth development. These include dentigerous cysts (around an impacted tooth), eruption cysts, and others.
- Infectious: The cyst results from the proliferation of bacteria following a deep cavity, dental trauma, or an incomplete root canal treatment. This is known as a radicular or periapical cyst.
When the infection causing the cyst is not treated, the bacteria stimulate a chronic inflammatory reaction that leads to the formation of a "granuloma" (less than 5 mm), then a true cyst as it expands.
What are the Symptoms of a Dental Cyst?
The growth of a cyst is slow and often asymptomatic. Most are discovered incidentally during a routine radiological examination. However, some signs can be a warning:
- Swelling of the gum or bone, noticeable by the patient or dentist.
- Dull, diffuse pain at the level of the affected tooth.
- Mobility or displacement of adjacent teeth.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Bleeding gums, bad breath.
- A fistula with pus discharge in advanced cases.
During a consultation, the dentist performs a clinical and radiological examination to confirm the diagnosis of a cyst and assess its extent.
How is a Dental Cyst Treated?
The management of a cyst has two components:
- Infection treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and antiseptic mouthwashes to reduce inflammation.
- Surgical removal of the cyst (enucleation) performed under local or general anesthesia depending on the size of the lesion. The dentist incises the gum, opens the bone, and removes the entire cystic sac along with the originating tooth if it is not salvageable. If the tooth is healthy, an endodontic treatment (root canal) or an apicoectomy may suffice.
The procedure lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Recovery is straightforward, and a follow-up X-ray is scheduled at 6 months to ensure there is no recurrence.
In 80 to 90% of cases, enucleation is curative and the prognosis is excellent. A bone graft and/or the placement of a dental implant are sometimes necessary later to fill the bone defect.
What are the Other Types of Oral Cysts?
Other non-dental cysts can develop in the oral cavity:
- Nasopalatine duct cyst: a painless swelling of the anterior palate.
- Nasolabial cyst: swelling of the upper lip with nasal obstruction.
- Dermoid cyst of the cheek: a firm, mobile subcutaneous mass, usually congenital.
Although these cysts are most often asymptomatic, their surgical excision is recommended to avoid aesthetic or functional issues.
Can a Dental Cyst Be Cancerous?
No, dental cysts are benign tumors that do not turn into cancer and do not metastasize. However, treatment is essential to prevent local expansion and complications (abscess, bone deformity) and systemic issues (ENT, cardiac, cerebral infection).
Conclusion
Dental and oral cysts are common and most often benign pathologies. Their early diagnosis and treatment by surgical enucleation allow for a quick and lasting cure in the vast majority of cases.
Prevention involves good daily oral hygiene and regular check-ups with your dentist, including clinical and radiological examinations. Do not hesitate to consult your dentist if you have any doubts or signs suggestive of a periodontal problem.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Cysts
Is a dental cyst serious?
An untreated dental cyst can lead to local complications (bone destruction, abscess) and systemic ones (ENT or generalized infections). Early management helps to avoid these risks.
How to differentiate a cyst from a dental abscess?
An abscess is an acute infection that results in a painful, pus-filled swelling, while a cyst is a chronic lesion that is often asymptomatic. Only a radiological examination can formally distinguish them.
Are there natural ways to eliminate a cyst?
Some remedies may relieve symptoms but cannot eradicate the cyst. Only a surgical procedure performed by a specialist is an effective and lasting treatment.