Differential Diagnosis for "Stone in the Gum"
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Pericoronitis with a calcified mass or a dental calculus (tartar) - This condition is characterized by inflammation of the gum tissue surrounding a partially erupted tooth, often associated with the accumulation of dental calculus, which can feel like a stone.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Periodontal abscess with a calcified component - An abscess in the gum tissue can sometimes contain calcified material that might be mistaken for a stone.
- Gingival cyst - Although less common, a gingival cyst can present as a hard, stone-like mass in the gum.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses:
- Malignant tumor (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma) - Although rare, a malignant tumor in the gum can present with a hard, stone-like lesion and must not be missed due to its serious implications.
- Osteonecrosis of the jaw - This condition, often associated with bisphosphonate use or radiation, can lead to exposed bone in the jaw that might feel like a stone in the gum.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Gingival sclerotic fibroma - A rare, benign tumor that can present as a hard mass in the gum.
- Foreign body (e.g., a piece of stone or a fragment of a dental instrument) - Although unlikely, it's possible for a foreign object to become embedded in the gum tissue, feeling like a stone.
- Eruption cyst or odontogenic cyst with calcification - These cysts, associated with tooth eruption or development, can rarely present with calcified components that might be mistaken for a stone.