Resumo

ABDO, Evandro Neves; NAVES, Marcelo Drummond; AGUIAR, Maria Cássia Ferreira de  e  MESQUITA, Ricardo Alves. Should an asymptomatic unerupted mandibular molar be removed?. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2012, vol.60, n.4, pp. 523-525. ISSN 1981-8637.

The purpose of this paper is to present a clinical case of a dentigerous cyst and to discuss the need to remove the asymptomatic, unerupted teeth. A 58-year-old white woman presented for removal of an asymptomatic unerupted left mandibular second molar. A periapical radiograph revealed a horizontal intra-alveolar unerupted second molar and the absence of the third molar. The second molar had a follicular space of less than 0.5 mm. The age of the patient, the absence of symptoms and the risk of losing the first molar during the surgery were sufficient for the patient to choose to undergo periodic checkups. In the 2nd year of checkups, the development was noted of a dentigerous cyst in the second molar. The dental surgeons must assess the risks involved in putting off surgery, the benefits to the patient and be aware of the need for periodic checkups at short intervals of time in cases of non-removal of the unerupted teeth. Also, it is important to be aware that it is not possible to predict whether or not certain pathologies might occur if they are not removed.

Palavras-chave : Dentigerous cyst.; Surgery oral.; Unerupted tooth..