A clinical study of four cases of radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth.

Radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth are rare, although they are the most common cysts of the jaws. During the 20-year period between 1976 and 1995, we studied four cases (three boys, one girl) of radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth at our hospital. These cases were diagnosed clinically and histologically. The patients' ages ranged from 9 years to 12 years, with a mean age of 11 years 4 months, and they were all in Hellman's Dental Age III B. Three patients had gingival swelling as a primary symptom, and the other had no symptoms. All lesions were located in the second premolar area of the mandible. Three cases were unilateral, and one was bilateral. All lesions showed swelling on the buccal side of the mandibular bone in the areas of the cysts. In all the lesions, X-ray examination showed cyst-like radiolucency at the apex of the second deciduous molars. Extirpation or mar supialization of the cysts was the treatment of choice for all lesions. There has been no recurrence, and all permanent teeth erupted at their normal positions in all patients.