DENTIGEROUS CYST (FOLLICULAR CYST)

• Dentigerous cyst is an epithelial cyst containing fluid which usually occurs over the crown of an unerupted permanent molar tooth (3^rd molar)
• Most common odotogenic cyst.

ETIOLOGY

• Unerupted tooth constantly irritates epithelial cells leading to cell degeneration & cyst formation.

PATHOLOGY

• Cyst is lined with squamous epithelium & filled with cholesterol cysts.
• The tooth lies obliquely and is embedded in the wall of the cyst.
• Further cyst displaces tooth & prevents it from eruption. 

CLINICAL FEATURES-

• Common in lower jaw.
• Seen in females of 30-40 years age.
• Painless, slow growing swelling.
• Progressive facial asymmetry
• Absence of molar tooth
• Expansion of mandible causes bone thinning resulting in egg- shell crackling.

INVESTIGATIONS

• X- ray shows well defined unilocular cyst radioluency around the crown of an unerupted tooth.
• Soap- bubble appearance due to multiple trabeculations of the bone.

TREATMENT-

• Small cyst- total excision of cyst by intraoral approach
• Large cyst- treated by marsupialization