  We study how the presence of an area gap, different than zero, affects the
gravitational collapse of a dust ball. The implementation of such discreteness
is achieved through the framework of polymer quantization, a scheme inspired by
loop quantum gravity (LQG). We study the collapse using variables which
represent the area, in order to impose the non-zero area gap condition. The
collapse is analyzed for both the flat and spherical Oppenheimer-Snyder models.
In both scenarios the formation of the singularity is avoided, due to the
inversion of the velocity at finite values of the sphere surface. This happens
due to the presence of a negative pressure, with origins at a quantum level.
When the inversion happens inside the black hole event horizon, we achieve a
geometry transition to a white hole. When the inversion happens outside the
event horizon, we find a new possible astrophysical object. A characterization
of such hypothetical object is done. Some constraints on the value for the area
gap are also imposed in order to maintain the link with our already established
physical theories.
