Jaw cyst surgery, or cystectomy, is a procedure within oral and maxillofacial surgery that involves the surgical removal of jaw cysts.
WHAT ARE JAW CYSTS?
Jaw cysts are pathological, round formations of benign nature that develop in the bones of the upper or lower jaw. They are filled with semi-liquid or liquid content and are lined with epithelium. Their size can vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. There are about twenty types and subtypes of jaw cysts.
TYPES OF JAW CYSTS
In practice, the most commonly encountered types include:
RADICULAR CYST
The radicular cyst is the most prevalent type of jaw cyst. It arises as a result of stimulation of the Malassez epithelial cells near the root of a tooth that has a dead pulp.
Follicular CYST
Follicular cysts belong to developmental cysts of the jaw. They are associated with the crown of an unerupted or impacted tooth, most commonly the lower wisdom teeth and upper canines.
KERATOCYST
Keratocysts are developmental jaw cysts characterized by a thin epithelial lining consisting of several layers of cells, the presence of keratin in the cyst cavity, as well as daughter cysts in the epithelial layer (satellites).
CAUSES OF JAW CYST DEVELOPMENT
It cannot be stated with certainty what causes cyst formation. Some jaw cysts arise from odontogenic tissue, or the cellular remnants of the tissue from which teeth develop. Others originate from bone or soft tissue that is not related to teeth. Genetic factors and mutations can also contribute to their occurrence.
SYMPTOMS – WHEN IS JAW CYST SURGERY NECESSARY?
Given that they show a tendency to grow, cysts can exert pressure on surrounding tissue, causing tooth migration, facial deformities, and resorption of the jawbone.
Cysts often do not show any symptoms and are usually discovered through radiographs of the jaws or teeth.
Based on the arising problem, a therapeutic approach, including surgery, is planned.
SURGERY FOR JAW CYSTS IN THE BELGRADE CENTER CLINIC
Depending on the size of the cyst and its location, diagnostic procedures may include:
The therapy is surgical, performed under local or general anesthesia, based on clinical examinations and analysis of imaging, biopsies, as well as the size and location of the cyst.
Cysts are sent to a reference histopathological laboratory for confirmation of the clinical diagnosis after surgical removal.
SURGICAL PROCEDURE
Smaller radicular and follicular cysts are operated on using the enucleation technique. In the case of radicular cysts, apicoectomy of the tooth root or tooth extraction is performed along with enucleation.
Enucleation of follicular cysts most often involves the extraction of an impacted tooth. Sometimes this is a therapeutic measure to create conditions for the eruption of an impacted incisor, canine, or premolar that was related to the cyst.
Keratocysts of smaller dimensions are removed by enucleation with mandatory application of Carnoy’s solution.
Described cysts, measuring several centimeters or more, which jeopardize vital teeth or whose surgery could lead to spontaneous jaw fractures, are operated on using the marsupialization technique.
This technique involves cutting a part of the cyst wall, aspirating the contents, and suturing the cystic epithelium to the oral mucosa. In this way, the cyst no longer exerts hydrostatic pressure on the surrounding tissue, allowing it to regenerate and reduce the volume of the cyst. Sometimes leading to complete healing.
In rare cases, a cyst of reduced size is removed using the enucleation technique.