Odontogenic Cysts
Dentigerous Cyst
aka Follicular cyst
Odontogenic developmental cyst that surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth and is attached at the CEJ.
§ figuresFigures (3)
Fig. 1dentigerous jaw cyst in the right mandible around and impacted wisdom tooth
“JawCyst (with arrows)” · JawCyst.jpg: Coronation Dental Specialty Group [1] derivative work: Jbarta · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 2dentigerous jaw cyst in the right mandible around and impacted wisdom tooth
“JawCyst (with arrows, cropped)” · JawCyst.jpg: Coronation Dental Specialty Group [1] derivative work: Jbarta and M · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Verified open-access images only, reproduced for education under their stated licences · no AI-generated or illustrative artwork · Dentigerous Cyst figures pending faculty review.
§ overviewOverview
Odontogenic developmental cyst that surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth and is attached at the CEJ.
§ epidemiologyEpidemiology
Second most common odontogenic cyst. Peak 20–40 years. Mandibular third molars and maxillary canines most affected.
§ pathogenesisPathogenesis
Fluid accumulates between reduced enamel epithelium and enamel of an unerupted tooth.
§ clinicalClinical Features
- 01Often asymptomatic — incidental finding
- 02Painless bony expansion when large
- 03Displacement / resorption of adjacent teeth
§ differentialDifferential Diagnosis
- 01OKC
- 02Unicystic ameloblastoma
- 03Adenomatoid odontogenic tumour
- 04Hyperplastic dental follicle (< 4 mm)
§ histopathHistopathology
- 012–4 cell thick non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
- 02Fibrous CT wall with occasional inflammatory infiltrate
§ radiographicRadiographic Features
- 01Well-defined unilocular corticated radiolucency around the crown of unerupted tooth
- 02Attachment at CEJ
- 03Central (surrounds crown), lateral, or circumferential variants
§ cbctCBCT Findings
- 013D relation to IAN canal and adjacent roots
§ treatmentTreatment
- 01Enucleation + extraction of associated tooth
- 02Marsupialisation for very large cysts / young patients to preserve tooth
§ complicationsComplications
- 01Recurrence rare
- 02Neoplastic transformation to ameloblastoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, or SCC (rare)
§ prognosisPrognosis
Excellent after complete enucleation.
§ pearlsClinical Pearls
- 01Follicular space > 4 mm on OPG is suspicious for dentigerous cyst.
§ mcqsMCQs — Assessment (1)
Question 1
Attachment of dentigerous cyst is at:
§ evidenceReferences & Evidence
Current Classification
WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours
5th Edition — Volume 9
WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board · 2022
The authoritative international classification of head and neck, odontogenic and salivary gland tumours. Current terminology on this site follows this edition.
Evidence summary
Highest level of evidence linked to this page: WHO / Official Classification.
- L1 · Classification — 3
- L4 · Research — 1
- L6 · Textbook — 3
1 linked source was published from 2024 onwards. Where guidance is limited or contested, rely on the higher-level sources above rather than this summary. Educational use only — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Content last reviewed
September 2026
Evidence last reviewed
September 2026
Next scheduled review
September 2027
Review status
EVIDENCE REVIEWED
Search latest PubMed evidence
Last literature search: 7 September 2026
Current Classification
WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. IARC / World Health Organization · 2022
The authoritative international classification of head and neck, odontogenic and salivary gland tumours. Current terminology on this site follows this edition.
Vered M, Wright JM. Head and neck pathology · 2022 · 16(1):63-75
Summary of odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumour changes in the 5th edition WHO classification.
IARC / WHO. IARC · 2022
Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.
Radiology References
Dunfee BL, Sakai O, Pistey R et al.. Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc · 2006 · 26(6):1751-68
Radiologic-pathologic correlation of benign and malignant odontogenic lesions of the jaws.
Histopathology References
Barnes L. CRC Press · 2008
Detailed histopathological reference for head and neck diagnostic criteria.
Textbook References
Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM et al.. Elsevier · 2024
Standard reference textbook of oral and maxillofacial pathology used throughout this atlas.
Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B. Elsevier · 2020
Undergraduate and postgraduate oral pathology textbook widely used in BDS and FCPS curricula.
Draft — pending faculty review. Educational use only; verify against current guidelines and primary sources before clinical application.