There are many benefits of marsupialization of large dental cysts. In our case, the embedded tooth, which existed horizontally in the bottom of a dentigerous cyst, was induced to erupt by means of marsupialization.
An 11-year-old girl was referred to The Oral Surgery of Chiba University on June 6,1988, complaining of a labial swelling of the lower left alveolus.
Radiographic findings revealed an oval radiolucency in the mandible with an embedded left lower canine lying horizontally towards the distal direction. The lesion involved the area from the right lower central incisor to the left lower first premolar. A diagnosis of the dentigerous cyst was made and the marsupialization was performed with a window at the lower labial alveolus. In order to maintain the surgical opening, an acrylic obturator employed, which had a plug with a penetrating hole from the cyst side to the oral vestibule.
Five months after surgery, the impacted canine had rotated 90 degrees and moved to the natural position. The canine erupted about 2/3 of the crown in 1year 2 months, and thoroughly in 1 year and 8 months after the surgery. After the cyst had completely disappeared, unfortunately a recurring cyst developed in 1 year and 3 months. It was then completely removed with a Partsch II operation.
After that, the cyst cavity was filled with the new bone tissue.
It became clear that even the noticeably rotated and impacted tooth, causing a dentigerous cyst, stands a good chance of eruption in the normal dentition by means of marsupialization.