Conservative surgical-orthodontic treatment of a young patient with a dentigerous cyst

Introduction: The dentigerous cyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst, whose therapeutic approach depends on the size of the lesion. This paper describes the treatment performed on a 14-year-old male patient who presented with a large dentigerous cyst on the permanent mandibular left second molar. Case report: The permanent mandibular left first molar was extracted, and the lesion was decompressed and marsupialized by excision of the overlying mucosa, opening a window into the cystic cavity and suturing an acrylic resin drain to the oral mucosa. The specimen removed during surgery confirmed the diagnosis of a dentigerous cyst. Within ninety days of surgery, there was a significant reduction in lesion size. Orthodontic treatment was then started, and included traction of the impacted tooth and opening of adequate space with a fixed appliance, providing favorable tooth alignment and leveling. Conclusion: Marsupialization and orthodontic traction should be considered when planning the treatment of a dentigerous cyst, mainly in young patients with large lesions, to avoid damage to the surrounding structures. Descriptors: Dentigerous cyst; decompression surgical; orthodontics corrective.