Abstract
A dentigerous cyst is one of the odontogenic cysts and encloses the crown of an unerupted tooth by expansion of its follicle. The treatment of dentigerous cysts is surgery, and especially if the dentigerous cyst is located in the maxillary sinus, the Caldwell-Luc procedure was usually undertaken. Recently, several authors reported novel endoscopic surgery techniques for maxillary disease. Endoscopic modified medial maxillectomy (EMMM) is a novel one. The advantage of this procedure is that elevating a mucosal flap helps to access the maxillary sinus and allows the preservation of the lateral wall of the nose involving the inferior turbinate or nasolacrimal duct.
We report two cases of maxillary dentigerous cysts, operated on with the EMMM procedure. In each case, we were able to achieve easy access to and a good operative field of the maxillary sinus. The unerupted teeth were removed and the cyst was fenestrated in case 1, and removed in case 2. The unerupted teeth were attached too firmly to be removed by usual antrostomy, without the EMMM procedure. In case 1, mucous rhinorrhea continued because of a residual lesion.
We conclude that the EMMM procedure was suitable for maxillary dentigerous cysts, but if the cyst is too large to remove with EMMM, surgeons should consider the Caldwell-Luc procedure.
