Hello Everyone,

I recently discovered a hard round lump beneath my gums about 1/4 of below what I think is my first lower molar on the right side jaw (the first tooth next to my bottom right eye tooth if that is the correct term. The lump is painless, hard, immovable just under a cm in size. There is no surface discoloration or lesion. The molar above the lump is very slightly mobile, but I think it always has been.

I'm a former dipper (stupid habit!), which is why I'm a little concerned. My dentist felt the bump and told me to come back if it hasn't gone away in two weeks. I'm coming up on two weeks and the lump has neither grown nor reduced in size. I haven't dipped for 8 years.

After reading a lot of the posts here, I know these questions are posted all the time but I'd like to know:

Are my symptoms similar to cases with which anyone is familiar (especially you doc!)? If so, what was the diagnosis. I've really been losing sleep over this for a while now.

Thanks in advance. You are all good people going through incredibly tough times. Stay strong.

D

Please note - the first sentence of my post should read "1/4 of an inch below..."

Thanks

D

Hello Dav

In some people, little bumps are found on the attached gingivae of the mandible. These are normal structures in these individuals, they may regress with age, require no treatment, but may be mistaken for disease. Torus mandibularis, bony hyperplasia on the lingual surface of the mandible, are most commonly found in the premolar area. It may be single or multiple, uni- or bilateral. It does not cause symptoms. Some normal bumps are shown at Examination Technique with Normal Findings and Structures Mistaken for Disease - look at Fig. 1.53 and Fig. 1.54. Normal bony lumps can be found in other parts of the jaw bones, see the topic: scared of lump in mouth

It is good that you stopped chewing/dipping tobacco - it is a dangerous habit. You may find this post on chewing tobacco risks helpful. To follow past discussions about this, do a search using the Find button for the word keyword "chewing tobacco".

Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thanks Doctor.

I'm not sure about the terminology, but does lingual mean the "inner" gums and buccal mean "outer" gums?

My bump is under the "outer" gums.

lingual = tongue-side (inner gums)
buccal = cheek-side (outer gums)
labial = lip-side (outer gums)

Unfortunately, what I have does not appear to match anything in the pictures the doctor directed me to. My lump is down closer to, if not on, the jaw. Basically, it is right where the inside of my lower front-right lip meets the gums.

I'll hold out hope that my growth is not malignant. What should I ask the dentist if he does not want to do a biopsy? I'm assuming he'll do an x-ray. But, I've read that jaw bone cancer often does not present clearly defined symptoms on an x-ray until the later stages, which is obviosly something I'd like to avoid.

D

Hi Dav

Your dentist will do the necessary investigations (e.g. toth vitality tests, radiographs) to help arrive at a diagnosis. You should be refered to a specialist (who might do a biopsy) if a diagnosis can't be made.

Best wishes
Vinod

Dave unfortunatly there isn't a lot one can ask. The Dentist will look at the site. Make his own obverastion then send you to the doctor of his choice. This is where the questions I think come in. Oh don't get me wrong I would be asking that Dentist what he thought it was, he isn't going to tell you. He may give you some kind of idea that it needs to be checked. That is all these Doc's do, they let another one tell you, no one wants to be the one. I have found this out to be so so true. They will send you to so many until somewhere down the line you have to be told. Hey they do this good or bad news. That is the frustrating part. So you never know from there faces what is going on. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try not to drive yourself nuts with worry. You will have plenty of time for that if it is CANCER, trust me. No need to go and start it early. Plus if it isn't CANCER (which I am praying right now that it is not) then you have worried all this time for nothing. SO for now take it easy and get that appt going...Please keep us to date on your situation...Always Vicki Lynn

Thanks Doc and Vicki Lynn.

NOT worrying about this is nearly impossible for me. I'm almost never sick and rarely even take cold medicine. So, having a bump in my mouth is quite a shock. I guess reading all of this stuff on the internet is double edged sword. You become informed, but overloaded with horrible pictures of tumors, etc...

Doc, has anyone presented a case similar to mine to you? If so, what is your feeling about my case? I know you can't give a clear cut diagnosis without seeing me, but I'm going nuts here. I want to try to be ready for whatever is coming my way.

On one hand, there are no surface sores, ulcers or lesions, which are common to almost all oral cancers. And, after scouring the internet for hours on end, I haven't found a case like mine that was diagnosed as cancer. However, there is a small, hard, immobile bump under my gums, which can't be good.

Sorry to be a bother, I'm just freaking a little bit.

D

Well,

I have an appointment with my dentist this coming Monday. I'm still nervous but not as bad. The lump still doesn't appear to have increased in size, which hopefully is a good sign.

Doc, have you run across a case like this before? What has typically been the diagnosis? I know you can't give ME a diagnosis, but I'm just looking for a little information based on your experience as to whether or not this could be malignant.

Thanks again.

quote:

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The lump is painless, hard, immovable just under a cm in size. There is no surface discoloration or lesion. The molar above the lump is very slightly mobile, but I think it always has been.

---

.... the boney lump could be - a 'Condensing Osteitis'' reaction to a possible chronic infection from a non-vital loose tooth. Be an optimist, it is not hurting or growing bigger and I could be right .

Best wishes
Vinod

Thanks Doc. At least you found something NON-cancerous that matches what I have. Although, the tooth, I believe, is still vital.

Thanks again.

Update:

Well, my dentist examined my mouth again and performed an x-ray on the area. The x-ray revealed what almost certainly is an abcessed tooth. The image is exactly like what he showed me an abcess should look like (both illustration picture and sample x-ray. I did ask a few times if he thought it was a malignacy. He said, "I'm fairly certain it is not."

Once I got home, I researched abcesses further and found that I have almost none of the symptoms of an abcess. Most notably, no pain. The dentist asked me if I had any trauma to the tooth recently. I have not, that I can remember. About six months ago, I had a toothache in that tooth for about two weeks just after we moved out of our house to an apartment. So I suppose I could have hit it on something then and I don't remember.

Doc, does it seem reasonable that I could have an abcessed tooth given that I don't have the symptoms (I occasionally have a mild pain in the area, but that's it)? I go to see the endodontist early next week. Is there anything I should ask him/her? What other follow up advice can you give me?

I'm somewhat at ease now, but won't be 100% until I get assurance from my dentist/endodontist that this is, in fact, an abcess.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

Also - when considering the above, please note that I have no crown/cap or cavity in the tooth in question (or anywhere for that matter).

Thanks

Hi Dav

Not all teeth become non-vital with lots of discomfort. Some have minimal symptoms. So, stop worrying and get the endodontics done. Ask your endodontist about the boney lump.My bet's still on it being a reaction to the chronic infection, like what I said .

Best wishes
Vinod