SailerClinic

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Jaw Cyst Removal

Jaw cysts are a particular challenge in modern dentistry – not least because they can remain asymptomatic for a long time. These fluid-filled cavities develop in the jawbone or soft tissue and are diagnosed by histological examination of the cystic tissue. Thanks to imaging techniques, we can now detect even the smallest changes at an early stage and treat them in a targeted manner to protect the health of your bones and teeth.

Removing a Cyst Can Save Teeth

Various types of cysts develop in the sensitive jaw area, originating from teeth and tooth germs. Cystic tumours of the tooth germs require particular caution – here, we rely on surgical techniques with larger safety margins to prevent recurrences.

The treatment of benign cysts depends on the diagnosis and their size:

  • For smaller cysts, a gentle complete removal enables optimal chances of recovery
  • We treat larger cysts with a two-stage procedure:
    • Pressure relief through minimally invasive cystostomy or marsupialisation
    • Gentle removal after size reduction

The resulting bone defect can be filled with autologous bone or lyophilised cartilage (lyocartilage).

Duration of the treatment

1–3 Hours

Fit for everyday life

After one week

Follow-up treatment

Suture removal and regular follow-up checks

Clinic stay

Outpatient

The most frequently asked questions

Jaw cysts are fluid-filled cavities in the jawbone or soft tissue. They can develop due to dead teeth, developmental disorders during tooth formation, or injuries in the jaw area.

Jaw cysts often remain asymptomatic for a long time. Typical signs can include throbbing pain caused by pressure on the periosteum, swelling, or discomfort while chewing. They are often detected through dental X-rays.

The treatment depends on the size of the cyst:

  • Small cysts: Complete removal through enucleation.
  • Large cysts: Two-stage procedure with decompression (cystostomy) followed by later removal. The resulting defect is filled with autologous bone or lyophilized cartilage.

The cyst removal is performed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia, or twilight sedation, making the procedure painless. After the surgery, only mild pain typically occurs, which can be easily managed.

After removal, the tissue is examined in the laboratory. If necessary, the jawbone is reconstructed. In some cases, additional measures such as root canal treatment or the removal of unstable teeth are required. Regular follow-up checks and an individualized aftercare plan promote healing.

Despite modern techniques, blood vessels or nerves may be injured, potentially causing temporary numbness. Rarely, a jaw fracture or the removal of neighboring teeth may be necessary. A thorough preliminary examination minimizes these risks.

Removing Cysts Promotes Health

Cysts can arise for a variety of reasons:

  • Dead teeth
  • Developmental disorders during tooth formation
  • Small injuries in the jaw area

Due to the fluid that consistently forms, the jaw cyst continues to grow, which is usually painless in the early stages. Since the fluid usually cannot drain away, the jaw cyst continues to grow and can damage neighbouring teeth, jawbone and the wall of the maxillary sinus.

As soon as the jaw cyst comes into contact with nerves, severe pain can occur in the jaw area. It is therefore necessary to have jaw cysts removed as soon as they are detected.

How Does the Removal Process Work?

A characteristic symptom of jaw cysts is an intense throbbing pain caused by increased pressure on the highly sensitive periosteum. If a cyst is detected by dental x-ray, you should act quickly and have the cyst removed.

In this case, the competent team of specialists at our SailerClinic will be happy to arrange a consultation with you. Together with you, we develop a tailor-made treatment strategy and, depending on the size of the jaw cyst, use a general anaesthetic, local anaesthetic or twilight sleep to remove the cyst.

Small cysts are exposed, opened up and then completely removed. Both the cyst secretion and the removed tissue are then examined in the laboratory to clarify the findings. This enables us to determine whether the change is benign or malignant.

The hole in the jawbone is professionally closed. After that, the bone reconstruction is initiated and the tooth is checked. If the tooth is no longer stable due to the size of the cyst, it should be removed.

If it is sufficiently stable, a root canal filling or a root tip resection may still be necessary to keep the tooth healthy. In some exceptional cases, neighbouring teeth may also need to be removed after cyst removal.

Before-and-after pictures

Removing Large Cysts

If the cyst has already reached a larger size, it is no longer so easy to remove. The focus here is on growth control, which is achieved by precise bone reduction in the direction of the oral cavity, thus creating direct access to the cyst.

A small opening is then cut into the cyst to reduce the pressure. The resulting cavity is lined with an iodoform strip for disinfection and size reduction. Once the cyst has shrunk, it is removed and the bone reconstruction after cyst removal is initiated.

Potential Complications of Cyst Removal

Cysts are removed with the utmost surgical precision using the latest technologies. However, surgical procedures naturally entail certain risks. For example, when removing cysts, vessels or nerves can be damaged due to the location of the cyst, causing temporary numbness.

In very rare cases, a jaw fracture can also occur if the cyst is already very extensive. Occasionally, neighbouring teeth have to be extracted if they are not sufficiently stable after cyst removal.

Our treatment strategy begins with a comprehensive preliminary examination and therapy plan. We will inform you of all aspects of the upcoming procedure in a detailed consultation. You will also receive a customised aftercare plan with recommendations for optimal wound healing. We are happy to answer your questions and are at your side even after the procedure.

Your expert team

Carolin Nägeli-Pullankavumkal

Specialist in oral, maxillofacial, and facial surgery, senior physician

Martin Lanzer
PD Dr. Dr. med. Dr. med. dent., eMBA

Specialist in oral, maxillofacial, and facial surgery, clinic director and CEO

Do you have questions? Contact us.

Get in touch with us – Our expert team will contact you.

"After the surgery, I finally see the person I’ve always been on the inside. My confidence has increased tremendously, and I no longer hide from the world. Thank you to the team."

Angela B., Aesthetic Surgery Patient