Dentigerous cyst in a 3 year old Chihuahua

Image 1

This image shows the appearance of what is known as a dentigerous cyst. The crown of an uninterrupted tooth can be seen just below the gum line (red arrow). Dentigerous cysts are fluid filled structures that initially surround the crown of an unerupted developing tooth. If expansion of the fluid is slow and the area around the “missing” tooth is otherwise healthy, a dentigerous cyst may not be discovered until a routine dental cleaning and oral health assessment is performed which was the case with this 3 year old Chihuahua.

Image 2

When oral radiographs were taken the cyst shows up as a semicircle of dark (radiolucent area) below and to the right of the unerupted tooth (white arrow). Treatment involved dissection and removal of the tooth crown that was below the gum line and removal of the associated cyst. If left alone, the dentigerous cyst can continue to slowly expand to the point where it may weaken surrounding bone.