Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate VII · General and Oral Pathology · 07

Cysts and odontogenic tumors

The periapical cyst at the apex of a nonvital tooth is the most common jaw cyst, and the dentigerous cyst surrounds the crown of an unerupted tooth, usually a mandibular third molar. The odontogenic keratocyst recurs often and, when multiple, suggests Gorlin syndrome. The odontoma is the most common odontogenic tumor, and the ameloblastoma forms a soap-bubble radiolucency in the posterior mandible.

High-yield facts · 9

  1. Periapical (radicular) cyst: most common jaw cyst; arises from rests of Malassez at the apex of a nonvital tooth.S47
  2. Dentigerous cyst: second most common odontogenic cyst; attaches at the CEJ of an unerupted tooth, usually a mandibular third molar.S47
  3. Odontogenic keratocyst: high recurrence (often cited around 25-30%); multiple OKCs suggest Gorlin syndrome.S47
  4. Lateral periodontal cyst: between roots of mandibular canine/premolar area, on a vital tooth.S47
  5. Nasopalatine duct cyst: most common nonodontogenic cyst; heart-shaped radiolucency between maxillary central roots.S47
  6. Odontoma is the most common odontogenic tumor; compound odontomas look like little teeth (anterior maxilla), complex ones are a disorganized mass (posterior mandible).S47T5
  7. Ameloblastoma: benign but locally aggressive; posterior mandible; multilocular "soap bubble" radiolucency.S47
  8. Stafne bone defect: radiolucency below the mandibular canal near the angle, caused by salivary tissue; no treatment.T7
  9. Periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia: mandibular anterior teeth, vital, most often in middle-aged Black women; starts radiolucent and becomes radiopaque.T5

Facts are written in our own words; each tag links to its source. Values marked "sources vary" differ between references, so check the one your program uses.