Dentigerous Cyst with an Impacted Canine: Case Report

Dentigerous cysts are the second most common developmental odontogenic cysts after radicular cyst. They usually present in the second or third decades of life and these cysts are rarely seen during child hood. Their frequency in the general population has been estimated at 1.44 cysts for every 100 unerupted teeth. According to frequency of impaction, the maxillary permanent canine ranks second only to the third molar, with a prevalence of approximately 2% in the general population. Impacted canines are positioned palatally 85% of the time. The frequency of impaction is three times greater in females than males. In many instances the cyst may be asymptomatic till it attains a large size. It usually presents as a slowly enlarging, sometimes painful swelling; particularly if infected. At radiography, dentigerous cysts appear as well-defined, round or ovoid, corticated, lucent lesions around the crowns of unerupted teeth. The radiographic appearance of such dentigerous cysts is comparable with that of cystic, unilocular odontogenic keratocysts. Treatment includes extraction of the associated tooth and enucleation of the cyst. In this study we present dentigerous cyst that caused by impacted canine. Case report (J Int Dent Med Res 2011; 4: (1), pp. 21-24)