You’re very familiar with the inside of your mouth, so noticing something unusual can be cause for concern. One common occurrence is that you notice a sudden bony protrusion on your gums. It might feel smooth, but it also might feel sharp. Worse still, it might be irritating the soft tissues or the tongue nearby. Fortunately, however, it’s a treatable condition, and that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this article.
Why Do I Have Something Sticking Out Of My Gum?
A bony growth on top of an existing bone is known as an exostosis or osteoma. It is not clearly understood why it occurs in the first place, although it’s believed to sometimes occur after chronic bone irritation or injury. However, it’s common to experience an exostosis in the mouth after a procedure such as a tooth extraction.
Bone Spur After Tooth Extraction
The body might spontaneously regenerate bone on top of existing bone during the healing process after a tooth extraction, even where it is not needed. Alternatively, it may even reject a fragment of bone and cause it to protrude out of your gums. These may feel sharp and stick into or protrude out of your gums, causing pain or discomfort. However, this is not usually the case.
Is A Bony Protrusion on Gums Harmful?
Fortunately, a bony protrusion on the gums is commonly not harmful at all. Many people may have dental exostoses but be in otherwise excellent health. By maintaining good oral hygiene, brushing, and flossing regularly, their oral health can be as good as someone without any exostoses.
In some rare cases, though, a bony growth can interfere with daily tasks such as speaking, eating, or chewing or irritate certain parts of the mouth. Over time, it may lead to the formation of an oral ulcer. This, in turn, means the delicate soft tissues surrounding the hard bony lump on the gums may become infected. All of this means that it requires surgical removal.
Dental Bone Spur Removal
An oral surgeon can remove a benign growth using specialized tools. The surgeon removes the soft tissue over the area, finely trims and smooths the bone out, and stitches the tissue back into place.
Conclusion
Rest assured that a bony protrusion on the gums is very unlikely to pose any concern to your dentist. So unless it’s interfering with the normal daily use of your mouth or a prescribed dental appliance, you shouldn’t worry. But we understand that it can be concerning to deal with, so we’re always open to speaking to our patients and understanding their needs. If you’d like a dental exostosis removed, it’s a relatively quick procedure.
At Champions Dental, we offer a first-class dental experience to all of our patients. With more than 15 years of experience, we pride ourselves on helping everyone maintain excellent oral health and a radiant smile. We also use the most advanced treatment techniques to offer an unmatched level of care in Houston, TX. So, if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, we’d love to see you! Please give us a call at (281) 866-0442.