A dentigerous cyst containing an ectopic canine at the infra-orbital rim: a case report

Dentigerous cysts are the most common type of developmental odontogenic cysts and make up 20% of all cysts.¹ They arise in the follicular tissues covering the fully formed crown of the unerupted tooth. They most commonly involve teeth that are impacted or erupt late. The maxillary permanent canines are the second most commonly affected teeth after the mandibular third molars. Most are detected in adolescents and young adults on routine radiographic examination but there is an increasing prevalence up to the fifth decade. There is a male predilection and the mandible is affected more than the maxilla. This condition commonly presents when a tooth of the permanent series is noted to be missing from the arch. However, by this stage it may have enlarged sufficiently to produce expansion of the jaw. Rarely, when very large, a dentigerous cyst can cause nerve paraesthesia, ophthalmologic signs such as proptosis or epiphora, and nasal symptoms.² The size can be variable, but a cyst is suspected if the follicular space exceeds 3 mm and can grow to several centimetres in diameter.