Mucocele

(Sailva gland cyst)

Last updated: 3rd July 2023

Written by Dr Zaeem Jafri

A mucocele is a cyst that forms when one of your saliva ducts gets damaged or blocked. They’re generally harmless and often disappear on their own. If they don’t, then they can be easily removed by a dentist or oral surgeon.

What does a mucocele look like?

  • Dome-shaped swellings

  • Blue/pearl in colour

  • Soft to touch

  • Moveable when pressed

They commonly occur on your lower lip but can occur anywhere in the mouth.

A small, defined mucocele

A small, defined mucocele

A large, diffuse mucocele

A large, diffuse mucocele

What should I do if I have one?

Don’t pop it!

You should get it checked by your dentist to make sure your swelling is actually a mucocele. Rememver you can message one of our online dentists who will be happy to take a look.

  • Take a few pictures of the cyst (the back camera of your phone with the flash on)

  • Send them to your dentist, It may save you from making a trip if they are happy to assess it remotely

  • Check to see what it looks like 1 week and 2 weeks later and update your dentist

  • If it hasn’t gone down by then or if it causing you problems, see your dentist in person for an assessment and referral to an oral surgeon for removal

What happens if I need to get rid of it?

Mucoceles need to be removed if:

  • They are causing you pain or discomfort, impacting your daily functions

  • They are persistently present, and you don’t like the look of them

Removing a mucocele is a simple procedure. Your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon who will numb the area with some local anaesthetic and remove the cyst by gently cutting it out.

You won’t need to be put to sleep, and your mouth will heal over a few days after the procedure.

Sometimes, the cyst can come back even after getting rid of it so don’t be alarmed if that happens.

Why do mucoceles occur in the first place?

Your mouth has several small tubes (ducts) that release saliva into your mouth. If any of these ducts get damaged or blocked, the saliva can start to leak out under your skin, creating a cyst. Saliva ducts can be damaged by:

  • Trauma (injuries to your mouth)

  • Irritation from your teeth or other objects

  • Piercings

  • Persistently sucking on or biting your lips

Sometimes the saliva ducts can be malformed due to genetics.

Frequently asked questions

  • No, a mucocele is a completely benign lesion and is unlikely to cause any long-term issues. It’s mainly a nuisance and people think it doesn’t look good. However, do make sure you speak to a dentist so that we can confirm that your lesion is in fact a mucocele and nothing else that needs investigating.

  • Usually, a mucocele develops to a certain size and then remains that way; it won’t keep growing indefinitely

  • Yes, a mucocele can be removed easily by a skilled dentist / oral surgeon. They will numb the area, remove the lesion and send it for testing to confirm what it is. This takes about 30 minutes and doesn’t require you to be put to sleep (general anaesthesia)

Still, got questions?

If you do find you have an annoying cyst in your mouth, don’t panic. Take some pictures, show your dentist and hopefully, it will go away on its own. If it doesn’t, then a simple procedure with an oral surgeon can fix it for you.

If your dentist doesn’t do remote consultations or you can’t get to them quickly, feel free to chat with a Nova dentist, we promise to get back to you on the same day with advice!