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See also impacted teeth; wisdom
teeth
What are dental cysts?
A cyst is a sac of tissue that has either fluid or soft material
inside it.
Cysts can form in a wide range of tissues including in the face
and mouth (including the jaws). Some can form next to or around
teeth, which are called dental cysts.
Cysts are a reaction of the body to a condition and are usually
relatively slow growing. They can be sterile or become infected.
Why do dental cysts form?
Dental cysts can form at the tip of the roots of dead teeth.
They can also form around the crowns (and roots) of buried teeth.
Most cysts form because the teeth they are associated with have
died (infection or trauma). Others form because of a mistake in
the way the teeth have developed (including being unable to grow
into the mouth properly). Rarely, dental cysts are part of a genetic
syndrome that has other symptoms (eg Gorlin's syndrome). Your
dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon will explain to you
more about the cause of your cyst.
Can I develop more than one dental cyst?
Any teeth can develop dental cysts. Mostly people will only have
one at a time, but some people are more susceptible to developing
them either because of the condition of their teeth or because
they have an inherited condition that has dental cysts as part
of its features.
What problems can dental cysts cause?
Dental cysts can cause several problems but some remain undetected
for months or even years. Many cause problems when:
-
They become infected (causing pain and/or swelling);
-
They slowly replace some bony tissue (they can weaken the
jaws),
-
They press against other teeth and structures;
-
They prevent the normal function of the teeth and mouth tissues.
How would I know if I have a dental cyst?
You might find out that you have a dental cyst when it becomes
infected (an abscess).
Your dentist might tell you that you have a dental cyst after
looking at a dental or jaw X-ray: cysts can be seen as darker
areas ('holes').
Some people only find out they have a dental cyst when their
jaw breaks after trauma (because the jaw is weakened by the cyst).
What is the difference between a dental cyst and a dental abscess?
Abscesses are localised acute infections, which require immediate
attention from your dentist. It is rare not to know you have an
abscess - they are usually associated with acute pain (they hurt
a lot!), swelling (eg of your gum or even face and cheek) and
sometimes an unpleasant smell or taste in the mouth. Abscesses
can form inside or near dental cysts, which is where the confusion
can occur.
Dental cysts aren't necessarily infected and can grow slowly
for many months or even years without any or many symptoms.
How can I prevent dental cysts from forming?
Teeth that remain alive, rarely have cysts develop next to them.
If the nerves in a tooth die (as a result of an infection or trauma),
your dentist will want to remove the nerve and fill its space
in the root with a root canal filling to stop it becoming a source
of infection. If this is successful, the tissues next to the root
shouldn't be stimulated to form a cyst (or an abscess).
For the health of your teeth and the rest of your mouth, it is
a good idea to visit a dentist regularly for a check-up. Sometimes,
your dentist will be concerned that you might have a buried tooth,
and will want to take X-rays to check for its position and state
of health. Often, it is a good idea for the dentist to carefully
watch or even remove buried teeth; this can either detect cysts
when they are small and/or prevent the formation of cysts by removing
the potential starting point.
How are dental cysts treated?
The treatment your dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon
will recommend for a dental cyst depends on the location, type
and size of cyst. Ideally, dentists or oral and maxillofacial
surgeons want to remove the cyst tissue to:
This is often done in combination with other treatment of the
tooth (or teeth) associated with the cyst.
What are the options if I have a cyst at the end of dead roots?
If it is a small cyst at the end of a dead root, treatment of
the dead root alone might allow the cyst to repair itself slowly.
Other cysts at the end of roots (particularly on front teeth)
might need to be scooped out by your dentist or oral and maxillofacial
surgeon to help the root treatment be more successful.
See also impacted teeth
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