What is a bone spur in the mouth?

Dental bone spurs (also known as bone spicules) are small bone pieces that become dislodged from the surrounding tissue but are still trapped in your gums.

Do bone spurs in mouth go away?

Like bone spurs on other parts of the body, oral bone spicules are the body’s reaction to bone disease or damage. Oral bone spicules may form following an oral surgery procedure. Usually, oral bone spicules heal on their own in weeks, and pose no long-term risk.

How do you get rid of bone spurs in gums?

With most cases, removing the offending piece usually just takes a quick flick or tug using a dental instrument or a pair of tweezers, with no anesthetic required. In some cases, the spur or sliver might be large enough and/or still buried under your gums enough that a longer, harder tug or push is required.

How are oral bone spurs removed?

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.

Can grinding teeth cause bone spurs?

Bony Protrusions Believe it or not, clenching and grinding can actually change the shape of your bone. Though not particularly common, some people with bruxism develop bony growths on the inside of their lower jaw, under the tongue. These growths are called mandibular tori, and they are harmless and benign.

How do you know if you have a bone spur?

Symptoms of Bone Spurs Pain in the affected joint. Pain or stiffness when you try to bend or move the affected joint. Weakness, numbness, or tingling in your arms or legs if the bone spur presses on nerves in your spine. Muscle spasms, cramps, or weakness.

Can you see a bone spur?

A bone spur is usually visible on an X-ray. But since most bone spurs do not cause problems, it would be unusual to take an X-ray just to see whether you have a bone spur. If you had an X-ray to evaluate one of the problems associated with bone spurs, such as arthritis, bone spurs would be visible on that X-ray.

What happens if a little piece of tooth is left after extraction?

A small part of a tooth may break and be left in the gum during an extraction procedure. This bone or tooth fragment in the gum may irritate the tongue and might cause infection in the gum. Therefore removing it would be beneficial for the patient.