{"id":53826,"date":"2023-08-15T13:41:50","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T08:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/?p=53826"},"modified":"2026-09-26T14:36:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T09:06:43","slug":"what-are-common-cysts-in-oral-cavity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/what-are-common-cysts-in-oral-cavity\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Cysts in the Oral Cavity: Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gazing into the mirror, have you ever wondered what secrets lie within the depths of your oral cavity? Beyond the bright smile and pearly whites, there exists a hidden realm where intriguing and often enigmatic occurrences take place. As the writer of this blog, I, Dr. Chirag Chamria, invite you on an extraordinary journey to explore the world of oral cysts \u2013 those elusive formations that can reside within our mouths, affecting millions of patients worldwide. This article explains some of the more commonly discussed cysts and cyst-like lesions in the oral cavity. It is intended for patient education and cannot replace an examination by a dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What exactly are Oral Cysts?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Oral cysts are fluid-filled or semi-solid sacs that can form within the oral cavity. They can emerge in various locations, including the gums, lips, palate, jawbone, or even around the roots of teeth. These cystic formations are quite common, and while some of them are harmless and resolve on their own, others may require medical intervention to prevent complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0An oral cyst is a sac-like lesion that may contain fluid, semi-solid material or other tissue. Cysts can develop in the gums, lips, palate, jawbone or around the roots of teeth. Some are found incidentally on an X-ray, while others may cause swelling, pain, drainage or changes in the position of nearby teeth. Not every lump or swelling in the mouth is a cyst. A swelling may also be related to infection, a salivary gland problem, a benign growth or another condition. A proper diagnosis usually requires a clinical examination and, depending on the location, dental X-rays, CBCT imaging, aspiration or biopsy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cyst near the jaw<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A true cyst is a pathological cavity usually lined by epithelium and containing fluid or semi-solid material. Some lesions that are commonly called cysts, such as most mucoceles, do not have a true epithelial lining and are more accurately described as pseudocysts. The appearance of a swelling alone is not enough to identify its type. Two different lesions can look similar clinically or on an X-ray, which is why the diagnosis should be based on examination, imaging and, when appropriate, histopathology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common cysts and cyst-like lesions in the mouth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. Radicular cysts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A radicular cyst, also called a periapical cyst, is an inflammatory odontogenic cyst associated with a tooth that has an infected or necrotic pulp. It usually develops around the root tip after untreated decay, trauma or another cause of pulpal infection. Radicular cysts may grow slowly and remain unnoticed for a long time. They are sometimes found during a routine dental X-ray. If the area becomes infected or the lesion becomes larger, a patient may develop pain, tenderness, swelling, drainage, discomfort while chewing or loosening of a nearby tooth. The affected tooth often has a non-vital pulp, so hot or cold sensitivity should not be treated as a defining sign of a radicular cyst. Symptoms may also come from an associated infection or from nearby tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How are radicular cysts treated?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Treatment depends on the size and location of the lesion, the condition of the tooth and its restorability. When the tooth can be saved, non-surgical root canal treatment may be the first step to remove infection from the root canal system and allow healing. Large, persistent or complex lesions may require additional treatment such as decompression, apical surgery or enucleation. The decision should be made after clinical examination and appropriate imaging rather than by assuming that every cyst requires immediate surgical removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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