A Growth on the Gum Above a Front Tooth, Removed and the Area Grafted
A firm, painless lump on the gum above a front tooth that the patient had noticed for about ten years and worried would affect her bite. The tissue was removed and sent to a pathologist, and the area was grafted so the gumline healed evenly.
What the Patient Noticed
A smooth, firm bump on the gum above one of the upper front teeth. It did not hurt, and it had been there for about ten years, slowly getting more noticeable. The concern was partly appearance and partly whether it would start to interfere with the bite.
What Was Done
Any growth that has been present for years and is changing needs a diagnosis, not just removal. The tissue was removed under local anesthetic and sent to an oral pathologist. The report came back as fibrous and epithelial hyperplasia with fibrous scarring, a benign overgrowth of gum tissue similar to a keloid, and nothing more serious. Removing a growth that size leaves a dip in the gumline, so a connective tissue graft was placed over the canine and premolars at the same time to restore the contour. Gum grafting explains the graft.
The Result
An even gumline with no trace of the growth, and a diagnosis on file. The smile photographs below show why this mattered to the patient.
Why This Case Is on the Page
Lumps on the gum are common and most turn out to be benign, but “most” is not a diagnosis, and only a pathology report settles what a particular growth is. If you have a growth on the gum that has been there for months, or one that is changing, have it looked at. Removal is often a short procedure, the tissue can be sent for examination, and the gumline can sometimes be rebuilt at the same visit.