Dentigerous cysts are odontogenic lesions arising from the crown of impacted,

embedded, or unerupted teeth (Alaeddini et al., 2009; Buyukkurt, Omezli and Miloglu, 2010).
The pathogenesis of these cysts is unknown. They are believed to originate from the follicle of
the unerupted tooth or inflammation process because of differentiation failure (Benn and Altini,
1996; Buyukkurt, Omezli and Miloglu, 2010).
The key to the formation of a dentigerous cyst appears to be the accumulation of fluid
either between the reduced enamel epithelium and enamel or in between the layers of the
enamel organ. Such fluid accumulation occurs as a result of pressure exerted by a potentially
erupting tooth on an impacted follicle that obstructs the venous outflow and thereby induces
rapid transudation of serum across the capillary walls. On the other hand, some researchers
believe that the likely origin of dentigerous cysts is a breakdown of proliferating cells that is
epithelial rests of Malassez of the follicle after impeded eruption. These breakdown products
result in increased osmotic tension and hence cyst formation (Benn and Altini, 1996;
Buyukkurt, Omezli and Miloglu, 2010).
There is general belief that different types of odontogenic cysts arise from odontogenic
ephitelial remnants formed at different stages of normal tooth development. The potential for
further proliferation and differentiation of these epithelial remnants during a cyst is different
and thus lead to variations in their epithelial expression and biological behaviour. Proliferation
of the epithelial rests of Malassez and formation of radicular cysts is thought to be initiated by
mediators (eg. IL-1) released by the periapical inflammatory and immune responses conse-
quent upon pulpal necrosis of the associated tooth. By contrast, little is known about the
initiation and control of epithelial rests of Malassez cellular proliferation and differentiation of
developmental cysts, namely odontogenic keratocysts and dentigerous cysts. The mechanisms
underlying their pathogenesis remain highly speculative (Li, Browne and Matthews, 1993;
Cabbar et al., 2008).

DAPUS :

Alaeddini M, Salah S, Dehghan F, Eshghyar N, and, Etemad-Moghadam S. 2009.

‘Comparison of angiogenesis in keratocystic odontogenic tumours, dentigerous cysts and
ameloblastomas’. Oral Diseases. 15(6). Pp. 422–427

Benn, A. and Altini, M. 1996. ‘Dentigerous cyst of inflammatory origin. A clinicopathologic

study.’. Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology. 81(2).Pp 203-209

Buyukkurt, M. C., Omezli, M. M. and Miloglu, O. 2010. ‘Dentigerous cyst associated with
an ectopic tooth in the maxillary sinus: a report of 3 cases and review of the literature’. Oral
Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontology. Elsevier Inc.
109(1). Pp. 67–71

Cabbar F, Güler N, Comunoglu N, Sencift K, and Cologlu S. 2008. ‘Determination of

Potential Cellular Proliferation in the Odontogenic Epithelia of the Dental Follicle of the
Asymptomatic Impacted Third Molars’. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 66(10).
Pp. 2004–2011

Li, T. J., Browne, R. M. and Matthews, J. B. 1993. ‘Expression of epidermal growth factor
receptors by odontogenic jaw cysts.’. Virchows Archiv A Pathological anatomy and
histopathology. 423(2). Pp. 137–44