Pericoronal radiolucency associated with incomplete crown.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Pathology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Odontogenic cysts are developmental or inflammatory lesions of the jaws.
• Dentigerous cysts typically arise from the eruption of a tooth, enclosing the crown.
• Previous literature has not described odontogenic cysts associated with incompletely formed tooth crowns.

Observation:

• The author observed 8 cases of pericoronal radiolucency with incomplete tooth crowns.
• The developing crowns appeared underdeveloped, sometimes radiographically floating within the lesion.
• Initial diagnosis suggested odontogenic keratocysts in all cases.

Findings:

• Histopathological examination revealed that 50% of the lesions were dentigerous cysts.
• This indicates dentigerous cysts can occur before the cemento-enamel junction is fully formed.
• The findings present a novel presentation of dentigerous cyst development.

Implications:

• This study expands the differential diagnosis for pericoronal radiolucencies.
• It suggests that dentigerous cysts may have a broader developmental window than previously recognized.
• Clinicians should consider dentigerous cysts in cases of radiolucencies with incompletely developed tooth crowns.