Mucocele
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Mucocele
Hamille Tokyo Dental Office
A mucocele is a swelling on the lip or inside the cheek caused by pooled saliva. Please do not burst it yourself — check its condition first.
About mucocele
A mucocele forms when the duct of a small salivary gland is injured or blocked and saliva collects in the surrounding tissue. It is most common on the lower lip and can appear as a soft, sometimes bluish, swelling. It may shrink and then swell again, and needs to be distinguished from other growths.
Common signs of a mucocele
Swelling of the lip or cheek
There is usually little pain, and it is often first noticed as a soft swelling.
The size can change
Even if it bursts and shrinks for a while, it can come back in the same place.
Cheek- or lip-biting habits and injury
A lip-biting habit, a fall, or contact with teeth or a dental appliance can sometimes trigger it.
Causes of a mucocele
Cheek-biting habits and bite irritation
The most common cause is accidentally biting the lip or the inside of the cheek while eating or talking. This injures the duct of a small salivary gland beneath the mucosa, so saliva leaks out and collects in the surrounding tissue, forming a mucocele. If you have an unconscious habit of biting your lip, it can keep coming back in the same spot.
Friction from tooth position or appliances
Protruding teeth, an underbite or sharp teeth make it easier to bite the lip or the inside of the cheek, increasing the chance of injuring the mucosa. Ongoing friction from dentures or an orthodontic appliance is another cause of damage to the salivary duct.
Age-related changes in the salivary glands
This type of mucocele is common in older people and is linked to salivary ducts becoming more prone to blockage with age. Changes in the saliva itself, or a salivary stone forming inside the duct, can sometimes get in the way of saliva flow.
Treatment options
The options available depend on the size, how long it has been present, and whether it keeps coming back.
Observation
If the cyst is small and causes no pain or disruption to daily life, we may simply keep an eye on it. It may burst on its own and shrink for a while, but the salivary duct is usually still blocked, so it can reappear in the same place.
Removing the cyst
If the cyst grows or keeps coming back, we remove it under local anaesthetic, separating it from the surrounding tissue. Removing it completely, with no cyst wall left behind, is the key to preventing recurrence. The incision is stitched, and the sutures are removed after about 1 week to 10 days.
Removing the salivary gland responsible
Removing the cyst alone can still leave it likely to recur, so we sometimes remove the small salivary gland responsible for it as well. The mouth contains a large number of salivary glands, so removing one is thought to have little effect on saliva production overall.
Laser cauterisation
For smaller cysts, laser cauterisation can also be used to vaporise them. This method causes less bleeding and swelling afterwards, but it is not always suitable for larger or deeper cysts.
Treatment process
Consultation and examination
We check when it appeared, how its size has changed, and whether there is any pain or injury involved.
Explaining the treatment approach
Based on its size and how long it has been present, we explain whether it is best to watch it or to treat it.
Arranging any treatment needed
After checking how long it has been present and its size, if treatment is needed we will explain how we can treat it here, or refer you to a partner medical institution as appropriate.
Follow-up visit
We check how the wound is healing and whether there is any recurrence, and address any irritation that may be causing it.
Don’t burst it yourself — come and see us
Piercing or squeezing it yourself can cause infection or bleeding. If it becomes hard, grows suddenly, bleeds, or fails to heal for a long time — anything unlike the typical picture of a mucocele — we will, if needed, refer you to a partner medical institution for examination.
FAQ
Q1. Can children get a mucocele too?
Yes, children can get a mucocele too. It is especially common in teenagers, and is sometimes triggered by biting the lip in class or while playing. If you are concerned, we recommend coming in sooner rather than later.
Q2. Is there a visible scar after removal?
The mucosa inside the mouth heals quickly. The stitch marks can be visible for a while but fade over time. As the incision is on the inside of the lip, any scar is not thought to be noticeable from the outside.
Q3. Are there growths that look similar to a mucocele?
Fibromas, lipomas and haemangiomas can all look similar. It is important to check the colour, firmness and size before reaching a diagnosis. In rare cases it may be a different condition, so if you notice any change we recommend having it examined.
Q4. Can it turn into cancer?
A mucocele is a benign growth and the risk of it turning into cancer is thought to be low. However, because it sometimes needs to be distinguished from other growths, if it stays unchanged for a long time, keeps growing or feels like a hard lump, we recommend having it checked as a precaution.
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