Incidence of the soft tissue changes around unerupted or impacted third molars

INTRODUCTION: Dental follicles remain adjacent to the crown of an unerupted or impacted tooth. Changes in dental follicles can occur and form a solitary cyst around the crown of the tooth, deemed dentigerous cysts. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of soft tissue changes around unerupted or impacted third molars. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Pericoronal tissue of patients who were referred to our clinic for removal of third molars for a variety of reasons was examined histopathologically. Follicular spaces were measured from periapical and panoramic radiographs by each author independently. RESULT: Of the 37 specimens submitted for histopathologic examination, 19 normal follicular tissues (51%), 11 arrangements typical of a cyst (30%) and 7 normal tissues of oral mucous (11%) were found. CONCLUSION: Cystic changes may be encountered in the histopathologic examination of radiographically normal unerupted or impacted third molar follicles.