Expert: Jeff Dalin DDS - 10/31/2006

Question
My son, aged 26 months, has most of his teeth except his lower incisors. He has a swelling on his lower left gum, about the size of a pea, but it is not blue or red, just pink. He has had it about 2-3 weeks, with no sign of a tooth emerging. It is causing him alot of pain. I have not noticed anything like this with any of his other teeth coming through. My dentist had a quick look and said it was an eruption cyst, but my research on the net has suggested that such a cyst would be blue in colour. Also, he has had it for quite a while, as I said. Is this really an eruption cyst? How do I treat it? How long will it last? thanks

Answer
celia
sometimes they are blue, sometimes they are not. they disappear as the teeth erupt. but sometimes they make it tough for the tooth to erupt. if he is still in pain, have an oral surgeon or pediatric dentist look at things. maybe they can do something to speed up the eruption of the tooth trying to make it in there. don't wait too long if there is pain involved. call for an appointment in the next day or so. good luck,

jeff dalin, dds