Dentists treat patients with a wide variety of problems. Some of them are easily treatable, and there are those with which you need to make a lot of efforts to save a person from suffering. These include a tooth cyst. Next, we consider the causes of the development of the disease and methods of therapy.
What is a pathology?
A tooth cyst is an isolated periodontal formation with its own walls in the root area. Bacterial cells settle inside the formation, there are remains of necrotic tissues. On the surface of the cyst there are cells that secrete fluid, so it has the ability to increase.
The immune system is trying to cope with the neoplasm, so the inflammatory process begins. The diameter of the cyst at the root of the tooth can be several millimeters, and sometimes reaches several centimeters.
What does a cyst look like?
If the formation is small, then it is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. When a tooth cyst becomes noticeable, the photo clearly demonstrates this, then this means that the process has gone too far and requires urgent medical intervention.
There are no formations on the gum, but it becomes red, swollen and painful. The doctor clarifies the diagnosis by x-ray, on it the formation is visible in the form of a dark spot with clear contours in the region of the root of the tooth.
Causes of cyst formation
A neoplasm at the root of the tooth can appear for many reasons, but most often this is due to the penetration of periodontal infection into the tissue. This is possible in the following cases:
- A tooth injury has occurred.
- As a result of poor-quality treatment of caries, the infection penetrated the root of the tooth.
- Against the background of infectious pathology in the oral cavity or in any system of internal organs, bacteria with a blood stream fell into the periodontium.
- Pathogens are introduced by endodontic instruments during caries treatment or prosthetics.
- There is an inflammatory process under the crown.
- Chronic periodontitis.
- A complication of chronic sinusitis has occurred.
- In the presence of severe dental problems.
- After unsuccessful implantation or treatment of caries.
- Difficulties arising from teething wisdom.
- Infectious diseases of the nasopharynx.
A long list of reasons still boils down to infection, which provokes the development of a tooth cyst.
Pathology development
A cyst often develops in the presence of periodontitis, which is either not treated at all, or the therapy is illiterate.
Further, the cyst development process looks like this:
- Periodontal infection, progressing, gives rise to the formation of cysts.
- Gradually increasing in size, the neoplasm on top is covered with a membrane of connective tissue, and inside the lining of the epithelium is formed.
- Inside, semi-liquid contents are gradually collected from dead cells and dead white blood cells, which tried to cope with the pathology.
- In the absence of therapy, the cyst develops further and captures adjacent teeth.
It is very important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear, then you can get rid of the cyst, preserving the tooth.
Symptoms of pathology
At the first stages of development, a tooth cyst practically does not show signs, so it is rather difficult to diagnose it. The first discomfort usually begins to appear when the formation reaches a decent size. But you can highlight the symptoms of a tooth cyst that will allow you to suspect a problem in a timely manner and consult a doctor:
- Near the root of the tooth, the swelling gradually increases. The process is long, but noticeable.
- Headaches appear, especially if a cyst is formed in the region of the maxillary sinuses. Even the administration of analgesics does not help to ease it.
- A fistula appears on the gum, signaling a pathological process at the root.
- With the aggravation of the process, the temperature rises.
- In the process of cyst growth, general weakness appears.
- The general health worsens.
- The lymph nodes enlarge and become painful.
- A flux appears on the gum.
- Pus begins to seep out of the fistula.
Do not delay a visit to the dentist, treatment of a tooth cyst is much easier in the early stages of its development.
How to clarify the diagnosis
On your first visit to the dentist, the doctor will conduct a survey to find out what dental problems were observed, what therapy was carried out. Often it turns out that there was a treatment for pulpitis or periodontitis, and then there was a complication after gum dissection.
The most accurate diagnosis is made by an X-ray. It can be obtained in several ways:
- Contact intraoral radiograph. It allows you to see the degree of destruction of bone tissue, the condition of the dental canals and root, to detect perforations and fragments of endodontic instruments. Also clearly visible in the picture is how the cyst contacts the adjacent teeth.
- Orthopantomogram. This is a panoramic shot of both jaws at once.
- A panoramic radiograph that covers the bones of the skull from the nose to the chin. The condition of the maxillary sinuses is clearly visible in the picture and can be detected if the cyst has grown in their cavity.
In addition to x-rays, another method of electroodontodiagnosis is used, which allows to evaluate the electroexcitability of teeth located next to the cyst. In some cases, a histological examination of the contents of the cyst is recommended to determine the malignant or benign nature.
Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to 100% recognize a cyst at the root of the tooth. Treatment will be selected depending on the results of the examination. The doctor must discuss the tactics with the patient.
Cyst treatment
The question arises when a tooth cyst is detected, treatment or removal? The choice is up to the patient, but the dentist must explain everything in detail so that the right decision is made.
Therapy is possible in two ways:
- Surgical removal.
- Conservative treatment.
Operation
Surgical intervention is indicated in the following cases:
- There was severe swelling.
- The patient suffers from intense pain.
- The cyst has increased in size by more than 1 centimeter.
- The neoplasm is located under the tooth on which the crown stands.
In dental practice, several types of surgical intervention are used, which are selected depending on the type of cyst and its size:
Cystotomy. Indications for surgery:
- The tooth cyst is large.
- The neoplasm has captured several teeth.
- If the cysts are located in the lower jaw and thinning of the bone tissue is observed.
- There is a destruction of the bone floor of the nasal cavity.
The procedure for the patient and the doctor is not complicated, but a long recovery phase is required. A dentist-surgeon removes the front wall, cleans the contents of the cyst and uses antiseptics for processing. After the operation, a course of antibiotics is prescribed.
Cystectomy During the procedure, the doctor removes the tooth cyst along with the apex of the root. The wound is sutured and a course of antibacterial drugs is prescribed. They resort to such an operation if:
- The cyst is small.
- A neoplasm is located in an area where teeth are missing.
- The development of cysts is associated with abnormal formation of the epithelium.
Hemisection. Removal of a tooth cyst along with the root, as well as part of the affected tooth. After the operation, a crown is installed to restore the functioning of the tooth.
Conservative therapy
Not in all cases it is necessary to immediately resort to surgery. Dentistry has tools in its arsenal that are capable of removing cysts without tooth extraction. The treatment procedure involves the following steps:
- Root canal treatment using antiseptic agents.
- The introduction of drugs at the apex of the root.
- Installation of a temporary seal.
- After a certain period of time, the effectiveness of the therapy is evaluated using an X-ray. If necessary, the procedure is repeated.
- After the disappearance of the cyst, the doctor establishes a permanent seal.
In practice, another method is used - depophoresis. Calcium hydroxide is used, it is introduced into the canal and, with the help of electric current, is distributed to neighboring tissues, including the cyst. Usually, 3-4 procedures are enough to rid the patient of the cyst. The remaining drug suspension in the tooth canal prevents its re-formation.
Given that the pathology is most often infectious, antibiotics are used for conservative therapy. They eliminate the inflammatory process in the soft tissues, thereby facilitating the course of the disease.
Only a doctor should prescribe antibacterial drugs, most often in this category fall:
- "Tetracycline", but recently it is used less and less, given the large number of side effects.
- "Tsifroloxacin."
- Amoxicillin.
In some cases, topical antibiotics are recommended as an adjunct.
Laser Removal
Laser treatment of tooth cysts is currently considered an effective method in dentistry. Doctors name several advantages of this therapy:
- The patient does not experience pain during treatment.
- The laser perfectly fights pathogenic microflora.
- The laser beam is not able to infect.
- The wound heals quickly, which reduces the duration of the recovery period.
- The tooth remains in place, there is no need to remove it.
- There is no risk of bleeding.
The whole procedure is as follows:
- The doctor removes the filling or prepares the tooth to allow access to the canal.
- With the help of special tools, the channels are expanded.
- An instrument is inserted into the enlarged hole and a laser is applied.
This method of treating a tooth cyst is more expensive, but it more than pays for quick recovery, the absence of complications. During the procedure, the patient practically does not feel pain, which is also important.
Is home treatment possible?
To cope with a cyst at the root of the tooth will not work with the help of improvised folk remedies. Gargling can relieve pain, slightly remove the inflammatory process, but the neoplasm will not go anywhere. If you decide to use folk remedies, then you need to remember:
- You can not warm the gum at the site of cyst formation. This will only increase the reproduction rate of pathogenic microorganisms and increase inflammation. Overheating of the cyst can provoke its rupture, then pus will enter the bloodstream and go throughout the body. Complications cannot be avoided for sure.
- It is not recommended to apply ice or a cold heating pad, there is a high probability of increased pain and you can catch a nerve.
Do not self-medicate, it is better to contact a competent specialist who will help get rid of the neoplasm without serious health consequences.
If the cyst is under the crown, what should I do?
The appearance of a neoplasm under the crown is often the result of disturbances during its installation. As a result, microorganisms settle between the teeth and gum and begin to multiply actively. What to do in this case:
- If the cyst is small, then the crown can not be removed, and therapy can be carried out without surgery, using conservative methods.
- If there is a cyst more than 8 mm, the risk of tooth loss is increased, but doctors in this situation can save it. The tooth is opened, the canals are treated with special drugs to remove the cyst. After some time, after the neoplasm disappears, the crown can be put in its place.
- If the measures taken do not help, you will have to resort to surgical removal of the cyst.
- In severe cases, the tooth must be removed.
If unpleasant symptoms appear, then you should not make yourself diagnoses. It is better to consult a doctor, then complications can be avoided.
Cyst consequences
If the neoplasm is not treated, growth continues, then the probability of destruction of the bone tissue of the jaw is high. This will lead to even more serious complications:
- Purulent inflammation.
- Cyst growth will lead to dissolution of the jaw bones.
- The lymph nodes become inflamed.
- Periostitis or osteomyelitis develops.
- An abscess forms.
- Chronic sinusitis develops due to germination of the cyst in the maxillary sinuses.
- With extensive overgrowth of the cyst, there is a high probability of a pathological fracture of the jaw.
- Infection of blood due to the penetration of purulent contents into the blood.
Do not delay the treatment of cysts, given the rather serious complications. In some situations, there is a risk of degeneration of the cystic formation into a malignant tumor.
Cyst prophylaxis
It is impossible to protect 100% from the formation of neoplasms on the roots of the teeth, but preventive measures can be taken that will significantly reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. These include:
- Visit your dentist periodically, even if there are no visible problems.
- Carefully follow all recommendations for dental care.
- Treat any inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
- Avoid injury to the maxillofacial area.
- Do not ignore any pain in the oral cavity.
A cyst at the root is not a sentence. Pathology is quite amenable to therapy, especially successfully with early detection. Using painkillers, you only smooth out the symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. Pathology continues to develop and without treatment, serious consequences cannot be avoided.