Anyone's LO had an epilus (sp?) on gum?

[Merlin]

Just taken DS1 to Doctor who reckons he has this. Now got appointment with dentist. It's a sort of smallish, red cyst on his upper gum. Anyone had any experience of this? Do they just disappear by themselves or will it have to be removed?

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how old is ds? Does he have any teeth yet

nearly 5 yrs

look here health.allrefer.com/health/mucous-cyst-info.html#definition

is it in an area where he has teeth (ie sometimes you can get what is known as an eruption cyst over where a tooth is about to come through)

thanks for the link chicago. It's on the gum above one of his front teeth. I guess the dentist will enlighten me!

I'm guessing then its still a baby tooth as he's 5ish. Did he every have a fall and knock that tooth. If so (an it could be a fall that happen over a year ago) it could be the case that the tooth has died and it is actually an abcess drainuing out through the gum. This is all speculation obviously as I haven't seen you ds.

Funnily enough he chipped the front tooth, but well over a year ago. Never caused him any problems, and the cyst is not painful, so don't think it's an abcess thankfully. He is still brushing his teeth vigorously so doesn't hurt him at all!

To be honest it often isn't painful. If the tooth is dead, and the abcess is draining then there is no pressure build up (basically the pus builds up and if it doesn't drain out it causes pressure on the nerves in the area = pain)Don't worry if this is the case as the dentist may just monitor it, or give antibiotics, but because of his age he'll lose that tooth fairly soon so its unlikely the dentist would do any treatment.

r u a dentist chicago?! You seem to be very well up on this sort of thing! Would the tooth not be discoloured if it was dead?

Yes I am a dentist (but as I said this is all speculation as I haven't seen the patient so to speak). Its not always the case that the tooth discolours and sometimes it does nearer the time of the trauma and then clears (the discoloration is due to bleeding and breakdown of the live tissues inside the tooth that leech into the hard tissues (dentine) a bit like a bruise hence the reason it can clear).

thanks chicago. hope it doesn't need drastic treatment. Better save up for the tooth fairy!

No probs. Happy to help.

Hey Chicagomum - took DS1 to dentist today who explained it all exactly as you described!!! He's on antibiotics which he said should take care of the infection and then just wait for the tooth to come out naturally - maybe in about 12 months.

So, thanks again for your advice.

I think dd2 might have one of these

her bottom left tooth has always been a bit discoloured

now she has a fleshy lump on the gum under the tooth next to it

have only just noticed it