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Dentigerous cyst

Case contributed by Sergio Uribe
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Patient on orthodontic treatment. OPG radiograph taken for third molar control.

Patient Data

Age: 16 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Control of teeth 17 (4.8) and 32 (3.8). Tooth 17 in development, Nolla stage 6, horizontal position, mesioangulated, with unilocular, well defined radiolucency with radiopaque border. 

A cone-beam CT examination was ordered later to evaluate the radiolucent area below teeth 17 (4.8).

ct

Tooth 17 in development, Nolla stage 6, horizontal position, mesioangulated, with unilocular, well defined radiolucency with radiopaque border. 

Case Discussion

Dentigerous cysts comprise 14-20% of all jaw cysts, more frequent in males and in mandibular area. 

The lesion is attached to the cervical area of an impacted, retained or in development tooth and results from the reduced enamel epithelium proliferation after enamel formation. 

Differential diagnosis includes odontogenic keratocyst, ameloblastoma, ameloblastic fibroma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. 

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