Infected Dentigerous Cyst and its Conservative Management: A Report of Two Cases

Aim: To check the efficacy of decompression technique in children with dentigerous cysts.Background: Most commonly occurring odontogenic cysts in the oral cavity are radicular cysts and dentigerous cysts. 1 According to Kramer, a cyst is defined as a pathological cavity having fluid, semi-fluid, or gaseous contents, which is not created by the accumulation of pus.A cyst which is lined by epithelium is known as a true cyst and that which is not lined by epithelium known as a pseudocyst. 2 The dictionary meaning of dentigerous is "structures resembling teeth".3 A dentigerous cyst is found enveloping the crown of an unerupted, embedded, or submerged tooth by the expansion of its follicle till the neck of the tooth. 1 It is not unusual for a dentigerous cyst to mimic a radicular cyst, especially when the cyst is associated with a pulpectomized or carious primary tooth and its unerupted permanent successor.This article presents two cases of infected dentigerous cysts.The first case was of a female patient associated with tooth 45; and another case was of a male patient associated with tooth 35.The infected dentigerous cyst in both the cases was treated with the most conservative option available, i.e., decompression technique.Case description: In this article, two cases of infected dentigerous cysts are discussed, in which one case deals with the female patient associated with tooth 45 and the other case deals with the male patient associated with tooth 35.The infected dentigerous cysts in both the cases were treated conservatively, i.e., with the decompression technique.Conclusion: The present case report states that the decompression technique may be the most conservative method available for managing dentigerous cysts in children.