Replantation of tooth involved in dentigerous cyst: a case report.

AIM: Dentigerous cyst (DC) is a disembriogenetic lesion. The cyst wall encloses the crown of an impacted tooth. Several therapeutic approaches have been mentioned in the literature for management of this lesion. Case Report This article describes the management of an adolescent with a mandibular DC surgically treated with extraction of the tooth, enucleation of the cyst and replantation of the permanent tooth involved. Final outcome shows complete healing of the bone socket with eruption of a vital tooth. No orthodontic traction was required. No recurrence was detected at the radiographic follow-up at 12 months, thus confirming the success of this therapeutic approach. After a 7-year follow-up period the tooth responded positively to the vitality test.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In selected cases surgical enucleation of the lesion without loss of involved tooth, might be considered as a viable treatment to obtain healing of the lesion, spontaneous eruption of the tooth and physiological restoration of bone.