Yes, dentigerous cysts can be very dangerous. Depending on the size, the cyst can potentially compromise the strength, integrity, and function of the jaw. It can compromise the adjacent teeth and cause permanent numbness or severe pain.
What's even worse, dentigerous cysts have been known to be the source of subsequent cancers (epidermoid carcinoma, malignant salivary tumors) . The treatment for these cancers can be very difficult, painful, and disfiguring.
As with almost any potential cancer, early detection and treatment holds the best hope for a good long-term prognosis.
If you have been diagnosed, seek a second opinion from a competent and skilled oral surgeon. Treatment involves a surgery that completely removes the cyst and the epithelial lining. This tissue should then be sent to a pathologist to rule out cancer. Follow your doctor's recommendation for treatment.
To see what a typical dentigerous cyst looks like on an x-ray, click on the links below:
