A small swelling is observed on the buccal aspect of maxillary central incisors, with negative tests and no pockets. What is the likely diagnosis?

In this scenario, the presence of a small swelling on the buccal aspect of the maxillary central incisors, along with the negative tests and absence of periodontal pockets, suggests a specific diagnosis. An abscess typically presents with localized swelling and may not always display classic symptoms such as tenderness to percussion or periodontal pocketing in its early stages, especially if it is a superficial or septic condition.

The symptoms described do not support periodontitis, which generally involves inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth and would likely show more significant signs such as pocketing, deeper probe depths, and possibly mobility.

Pulpitis, characterized by inflammation of the dental pulp, usually leads to symptoms such as pain or discomfort when the tooth is stimulated (thermal or percussion). In this case, the negative tests indicate that there is no pulpal involvement.

A cyst, while it can also present as a swelling, typically shows signs that differentiate it from an abscess, such as a well-defined radiolucency upon imaging. The swelling in this scenario seems to indicate an inflammatory response without the characteristics of a cystic structure.

Therefore, the small swelling observed is most consistent with an abscess, given the localized nature of the swelling, the absence of deeper probing depths