Pathological tissue in follicles of surgically exposed un-erupted teeth: which is the fate?

Objective: A retrospective analysis of a case series of permanent teeth with impaired eruption, in which follicular histological changes were found, was performed. Materials and methods: All cases in which any pathological changes, with the exception of cyst, were found at microscopic examination of follicles of teeth delayed in eruption, surgically treated in the range of time from January 2009 to December 2016, were collected. Results: Eleven pathologic follicles from six patients, whose average age was 14.5 +/- 4.1, were found. Involved teeth were nine second and two third molars. The most frequently diagnosed pathologic alteration was an odontogenic fibroma. No clinical and radiographic alterations were found in all treated areas at follow-up, both in cases where follicles were only partially removed and in those where the entire follicle was removed together with the tooth. Conclusion: In young people, pathological tissue possibly left in situ after surgical exposure of teeth with impaired eruption seems to undergo atrophy, involution or otherwise metaplasia/transformation into normal epithelium during tooth eruption.