• Surin Tangsuphoom B.Sc., D.D.S., M.P.H.

This article is a case report of dentigerous cyst which involved the unerupted left maxillary
lateral incisor and canine. The patient was a 8-year-old boy with an enlargement of the alveolar
bone in the left anterior upper jaw, extending from left maxillary central incisor to left maxillary
first premolar region. He was treated by extraction of the left deciduous lateral incisor and canine,
and enucleation of the cyst together with removal of the unerupted left maxillary lateral incisor
and canine. No recurrence of the cyst was observed after one year follow-up period by
radiographic examination. The dentigerous cyst in this patient may be the result of chronic
infection from the deciduous predecessor. Proper pulp therapy or extraction of the deciduous tooth
with periradicular infection will usually result in resolution of the condition and avoid severe
damage to the underlying permanent tooth germ.

(CU Dent J. 2007;30:43-50)