I've developed a small, painless, hard lump on my top gum, about the size of a small pea. I saw both the dentist and dental hygienist two weeks before I noticed it, so I know this is something new.

When I went again to have it checked, the dentist said he thought it was a mouth ulcer inside my gum and that it would clear up in a fortnight. However, it's a fortnight later and it's still the same.

It's very hard - like an extra piece of bone - so I'm sceptical of the ulcer theory. It doesn't hurt when touched and I'm sure an ulcer would.

The dentist is suggesting that he carries out exploratory root canal work to investigate, but the tooth below the lump is healthy and he's sure I don't have an abscess. I don't want to have unnecessary work done.

Should I ask for a referral to a specialist or am I making a fuss about nothing?

I had a breast lump removed earlier in the year. It turned out to be benign, but I'm super-sensitive to unexplained lumps right now and I could just be losing perspective.

Many thanks for any advice,
Kel

Hi KelB

Look at the article called Examination Technique with Normal Findings and Structures Mistaken for Disease at (Figs. 1.55 and 1.56) about gingival fibrous nodules or gingival nodules. A similar appearance caused by bone lumps above the upper anterior teeth are called exostoses. or just by the bumps caused by the roots of the teeth!

Hope that helps. Ask your dentist about this possibility!

Best wishes
Vinod

Phew!

It looks exactly like Fig 1.55, the (harmless) gingival fibrous nodule.

I shall take a valium and pass one to my dentist while he's looking it up...

Thanks very much for putting my mind at rest until the appointment.

Kel

Hey, the entry back in 2005 from KelB and the great reply from Dr Vinod Joshi really helped. One interesting sidenote: KelB says "I've developed a small, painless, hard lump on my top gum, about the size of a small pea. I saw both the dentist and dental hygienist two weeks before I noticed it, so I know this is something new." Guess what, my small smooth lump on upper gum ALSO showed up a couple weeks after a dentist and hygenist really scraped around my teeth. Hmmmmm, did they bump something so hard it caused this non-painful bump to occur? Anyhow, thanks to Doc Vinod, i'm not panicking. Cheers, John in Dublin

Jus apply some salt on it. n it will disappear... same happened to me. it pains a little wen u apply salt...