Ok, new question: Jaw cyst removal?

[Anxious Kitty]

If you look at my last topic, I was worried about a lump in my jaw that was/is still remaining after having my chronically infected bottom molar removed over two weeks ago.

I really thought any trace of infection would leave with the tooth as that's what I've always been told. I am just now learning about the cysts that can form on the jaw due to a chronic infection (especially on the lower jaw).

I'm pretty much convinced that this is what I have now as it perfectly explains everything. Sadly, my dentist has been closed since last Thursday and will not be open again til Tuesday. So I will call them then.
I already have a cleaning scheduled for the next day, on Wednesday, so I'm hoping they can look at my jaw while I'm there and give me some type of confirmation.

Anyway my question is: How bad is getting a jaw cyst removed? As I'm pretty well convinced I'm going to need jaw surgery to remove this, I want to know what to expect.
I don't know how big the cyst is. I have no visible signs of it but can feel it when pressing on my jaw firmly with my finger. I can also feel it with my tongue a bit.

It's been there a long time but I didn't know what it was other than it was related to my tooth being infected and assumed it was just the buildup of infection. :/ It did shrink after having the tooth out but it hasn't gone away and I know it won't unless I get surgery (if it is indeed a cyst).

I'm confused why, of all the dentists I've seen, and xrays I've had, none mentioned this after the years that's it's been there. Is it possible to go undetected so many times? Or maybe it is something less insidious?

Anyways, I've accepted that I'm going to need this surgery. I just want to know how bad it is. I'm more worried about the procedure itself than the healing/pain after it. Can I have it done while awake with just local anesthetic? How bad is it compared to an extraction? I've had a few extractions and found them easy. I've also had one root canal and found it a bit worse cuz it took so long and there was a lot of unpleasant sensations with the drill and vibrations... but I could do it again if I had to.

Just wondering if I would be able to handle being awake for a cyst removal? I hate being knocked out and would prefer not to. Also, will my face look weird/deformed or like something is missing after I heal? Cuz I heard they sometimes take an entire part of jaw out.

I'm only in my 20s and kind of vain and just want pretty teeth and to look pretty already. This whole thing is just going to slow down my journey to getting into braces and fixing my teeth... ugh.

 

[Anxious Kitty]

**update please read**

Ok well I went in for my cleaning today (which went good!) Both the dentist and hygeneist palpitated the area of my jaw thoroughly to feel this "lump" I've been complaining about.

They didnt do any new x-rays. The last one I had of that area was 3 weeks ago right before having the offending tooth removed.

But they told me, based on my past x-rays and such, they don't believe it's a cyst. They said it was probably part of my bone which would need some time still to heal since after the extraction.

He assured me I shouldn't be worried about it, this is just something that could take months to heal and go away. He did say that if its not getting better at all by August, he could take another x-ray. But he doesn't believe there's anything wrong.

I just wanna make sure this sounds right? I wish I had requested copies of my xrays to post here. Oops. Well, I do trust my dentist... he's great. Still a bit paranoid. Wanna make sure this sounds right.

I might make a new thread if I don't get a reponse.

 

[Anxious Kitty]

Just updating in case someone with a similar issue ever comes across this.

Since some time has passed, the lump on my jaw has shrunk considerably. It's not totally gone yet, and my dentist said he didnt anticipate it would be by my next appointment (early August) but it's really small now. It's been a gradual change but it seems it will soon be gone on its own.

So I guess its not a cyst afterall. That's quite a relief! I could've sworn it was, based on my symptoms and circumstances but I guess that just goes to show how much you can't diagnose yourself and not to fall for the Dr. Google trap.

If you have a similar symptom, get it checked out but don't panic. Sometimes it's just something that needs to heal up on it's own.