Chronic inflammation around painless partially erupted third molars.

Objectives. We sought to assess the histologic host response in chronic, symptomless pericoronitis. Study Design. Gingival mucosal (n = 20) and dental follicle (n = 20) samples were collected during extraction from patients with pericoronitis and clinically healthy control subjects. Antibodies-recognizing macrophages (CD68), natural killer cells (CD56), T cells (CD2), helper T cells (CD4), suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD8), and neutrophils (lactoferrin) were applied in a labelled streptavidin-biotin method by using a DAKO TechMate staining robot. Results. Macrophage was the most numerous kind of cell in pericoronitis, but CD2+ T lymphocytes, with a normal CD4/CD8 ratio, were also increased (P <.01). Neutrophils were not increased and did not show signs of activation. Dental follicles did not contain increased numbers of inflammatory cells. Conclusion. This type of pericoronitis is a chronic/smoldering, rather than an acute/purulent, infection. Because of the chronic and often symptomless nature of pericoronitis, various long-term sequelae may result, which may lead to the need for extraction. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2003;95:277-82)