What Is a Bone Spur on the Gum?
A bone spur on the gum refers to an area where there is a bit of bone that is exposed through the gum. EMedicineHealth explains that a bone spur refers to any bone outgrowth. These bone spurs can be surgically removed.
WebMD further explains that a bone spur, or osteophyte, is an outgrowth of bone that can occur along the edges of a bone. Bone spurs can form in any bone, but they are most commonly found in joints where two or more bones come together. They also occur where muscles, ligaments, and tendons attach to the bone. Some of the most common parts of the body affected by bone spurs are the neck (cervical spine), low back (lumbar spine), shoulder, knee, foot and heel. They can also occur in the mouth after a tooth extraction or dental surgery. The jaw is one of the most important bones in the body, and it has an important role in both eating and communication. One condition affecting both of these functions is the presence of painful bone spurs in the mouth. Bone spurs are really a smooth growth of bone that is formed by the body as a response to damaged bone. When bone spurs occur in the mouth, they are known as oral osteophytes.
