Many parents sometime will find that their child or baby have a bluish-purple bump on their gingiva (gum).  There is no need to panic, this is a fairly common development and is known as an eruption cyst or eruption hematoma.

Children’s teeth form inside of a protective enclosure. As the teeth form, they move through the bone and then through the gums until they make it into the mouth.  An eruption cyst occurs during the tooth’s final entry into the mouth, just under the surface of the gums. The protective enclosure around the teeth may leak fluid causing accumulation between the tooth and gum tissues. An opposing tooth due to bite force can also cause fluid and possible blood to accumulate. The color of the tissue around the tooth is dependent on the amount of blood that accumulates. The gum tissue can be swollen and appear to be a translucent color, bluish purple, or even dark red and brown. Although the eruption cyst or eruption hematoma are unattractive and often cause parents to worry, most are actually painless.

How are Eruption Cysts Treated?

Most of these hematomas will not require any special treatment. The tooth will break through the hematoma and emerge just like any normal teething experience. The broken tissue will heal on its own and probably won’t even cause any discomfort. Should parents have any concerns regarding the cyst they shouldn’t hesitate to call their pediatric dentist. Parents should describe the appearance, the time they noticed its presence, and any symptoms. The pediatric dentist will instruct as to whether or not the child should be seen in office. Occasionally, the excess fluid from the eruption cyst may stop the tooth from emerging through the gum. Rarely, a minor procedure under local anesthesia might be necessary to expose the tooth and allow complete eruption.