Histopathologic Changes in Dental Follicle Associated with Radiographically Normal Impacted Lower Third Molars

Impacted third molar extractions are one of the most common oral surgical procedures. In cases where a pathological condition is observed, it is relatively easy to decide on surgery. However, cystic changes can be observed in follicular tissues even in cases where pathological changes are not observed on radiography. The present study aimed to evaluate the histopathologic changes in dental follicles associated with radiographically normal impacted lower third molar. One hundred and one dental follicles were obtained after third molar surgeries. The patients with follicular width of less than 2.5 mm in the panoramic radiographs were included in the study. The relationships between pathological changes in follicular tissues and angular position of impacted teeth, age and gender were statistically examined. Cystic changes were observed in 65 (64.3%) of 101 follicles examined. The relationship between cystic changes and the angular position of impacted lower third molars was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Cystic changes were observed in 13 (43.3%) of 30 mesioangular teeth, 24 (80%) of 30 vertical teeth, 19 (65.5%) of 29 horizontal teeth, and 9 (75%) of 12 distoangular teeth. About 60% of cystic changes and 64.06% of inflammation occurred in patients between the ages of 20 and 30. Cystic changes can be observed in the follicular tissues of impacted lower third molars that are radiographically normal. There is a probability of histopathological changes, especially in patients over the age of 20 years and in the impacted lower third molars in the vertical position.