Craniofacial Trauma
Emergency and reconstructive treatment for facial fractures and injuries to the jaws, cheekbones and orbit.
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Craniofacial Surgery
Orofacial Cyst & Tumour
Diagnosis and surgical removal of cysts, benign tumours and other jaw pathology.
Cysts and tumours of the jaws often develop silently, producing no symptoms until they are large enough to expand the bone, loosen teeth or show up on a routine dental X-ray.
How they present
A painless swelling of the jaw, teeth that have become loose or displaced without gum disease, delayed eruption of a tooth, altered sensation in the lip, or an incidental finding on imaging taken for another reason.
Treatment
Management depends on the type, size and location of the lesion, confirmed by imaging and biopsy. Options range from enucleation of a small cyst to more extensive resection with reconstruction. Early treatment is considerably simpler — and preserves far more bone — than late treatment.
You may need this if
- A slowly enlarging, usually painless jaw swelling
- Teeth becoming loose or shifting without gum disease
- A tooth that never erupted
- An incidental finding on a routine dental X-ray
Not sure whether this applies to you? Call and describe the problem — we will tell you honestly.
What treatment involves
1
Imaging
Radiographs establish the size, position and relationship to nerves, tooth roots and the sinus.
2
Biopsy
A sample confirms the type. Treatment differs substantially between lesion types, so this step is not skipped.
3
Surgical removal
Enucleation for smaller cysts; more extensive resection with reconstruction for aggressive lesions. Earlier treatment preserves far more bone.
4
Follow-up
Reviewed with periodic X-rays, because some lesions can recur years later.
Why it is worth doing
Often found early on X-ray
Many cysts are silent until they are large — imaging catches them.
Biopsy for certainty
Type confirmed before deciding on treatment.
Bone-preserving surgery
Earlier treatment means far less bone needs removing.
Followed up properly
Review appointments to confirm it does not recur.
Aftercare
- Soft diet and careful hygiene around the surgical site
- Attend the long-term review X-rays even when you feel completely well
- Report any recurrence of swelling promptly
Questions
Orofacial Cyst & Tumour — FAQs
Often you would not — many are painless and are found on a routine dental X-ray. Warning signs include a slowly enlarging jaw swelling, teeth becoming loose or shifting without gum disease, a tooth that never erupted, or numbness of the lip.
The large majority are benign. However, they still need removal because they expand and destroy bone, and biopsy is what confirms the diagnosis with certainty.
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