Laser-assisted treatment of a dentigerous cyst: case report

Dentigerous cysts are benign maxillary odontogenic cysts associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth. They can expand the cortical bone to such an extent that they cause displacement of teeth and root resorption in the adjacent teeth. The purpose of this report was to describe the clinical case of a dentigerous cyst in a mandibular permanent molar of a 6-year-old child. The cyst caused the displacement of the bud of the permanent second molar and root resorption of the primary second molar. The cyst was treated by: (1) mucous fenestration using an erbium laser: (2) drainage of the fluid content; and (3) curettage of the bone cavity. The injury was successfully resolved in just 5 months with: (1) bone regeneration; (2) the repositioning of the displaced bud; and (3) correct eruption of the affected tooth.