Symptoms of Gum Tumor

Female patients are more likely to develop gingival tumors, especially young and middle-aged people. This type of tumor is most common in the bicuspid area, but can also be seen in the tongue and palate, and usually occurs in a single tooth. The tumors vary in size, generally round or oval, and some are like polyps, soft in texture, red in color, and grow relatively slowly. The main treatment method is surgical resection. To avoid recurrence, surgical resection should reach the bone surface. The postoperative prognosis is usually optimistic.

1. What is gingival tumor

Gingival tumor is an inflammatory tumor-like growth that grows locally on the gums, especially on the gingival papilla. It originates from the connective tissue of the periodontal ligament and gums. Because it does not have the biological characteristics and structure of a tumor, it is not a true tumor, but it is prone to recurrence after resection.

2. Causes

Gingival tumors are generally caused by local factors such as residual roots, tartar, and poor restorations, and are related to mechanical stimulation or chronic inflammatory stimulation. In addition, it is also related to endocrine factors. For example, women are more likely to develop gingival tumors during pregnancy, and the gingival tumors shrink or stop growing after delivery.

Pathology

Gingival tumors are generally divided into three types according to their pathological changes:

1. Granuloma type: similar to inflammatory granulation tissue, with many new capillaries and fibroblasts, accompanied by many inflammatory cell infiltrations, mainly lymphocytes and plasma cells, with few fibrous components, and the gingival mucosal epithelium often shows pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia.

2. Fibrous type: granulation tissue fibrosis, with a decrease in cell and vascular components and an increase in fibrous tissue. There is a small amount of chronic inflammatory cell infiltration between the thick collagen fiber bundles, calcification or ossification may be present within the fiber bundles, there are irregular trabeculae but no odontogenic epithelial structure, which is called peripheral ossifying fibroma.

3. Vascular type: There are a lot of blood vessels, similar to hemangioma, the fibrous tissue between blood vessels may be edematous and myxoid, and there is inflammatory cell infiltration. The gums bleed easily.

4. Performance

Gingival tumors are more common in female patients, and are more common in middle-aged and young people. It often occurs in the gingival papillae on the labial and buccal sides, is most common in the bicuspid area, rarely in the tongue and palate, and usually occurs in a single tooth. The lumps are relatively localized and vary in size, usually round or oval, sometimes paged, some with pedicles like polyps, and some without pedicles and with a broad base. The vascular and granulomatous types are soft in texture and red in color; the fibrous type is tough and hard in texture and pink in color. The mass usually grows slowly but can increase rapidly during pregnancy. As the lump grows larger, it can cover part of the tooth surface and alveolar process, and tooth marks can be seen on the surface, which can easily cause ulcers, bleeding, or infection due to bites. It is generally painless, but pain may be felt when ulcers occur on the surface of the tumor. Long-term presence of a large mass can compress and destroy the alveolar bone wall. X-rays show widening of the local periodontal membrane, causing the teeth to loosen and shift.

5. Treatment

Remove irritating factors such as plaque, tartar and poor restorations, and surgically remove the gingival tumor. The excision should reach the bone surface, including the periosteum, chisel away a small amount of alveolar bone corresponding to the tumor, and scrape the periodontal membrane at that location to avoid recurrence. The postoperative prognosis is generally good.