Proliferative potential of impacted tooth lesions using Ki67 labelling index-A clinicopathological insight

Tooth impaction is a frequent phenomenon, and the prevalence and distribution of this entity in different regions of the jaws may vary considerably. The third molars, maxillary canines, maxillary and mandibular premolars, and maxillary central incisors are the most commonly affected teeth. Impacted teeth in children and adolescents are rarely associated with pathological changes, but the prevalence of problems has been found to increase in later decades. Impacted teeth are commonly asymptomatic and not associated with any pathologic lesions for years. Proliferative potential of various odontogenic lesions were calculated using Ki-67 labeling index calculation, with the highest index of Unicystic Ameloblastoma followed by Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, Unicystic Ameloblastoma, followed by the dental follicle. Ki-67 is a marker of cell proliferation, used as an important diagnostic marker in the pathologic differentiation of various lesions. It is always better to orthodontically treat or extract asymptomatic impacted teeth to avoid or to restrict the proliferative capacity of the dental follicle. Treatment decisions about the third molar have important clinical and cost implications.