Radiological Growth Rate of Dentigerous Cysts Associated with Mandibular Third Molars: A Retrospective Panoramic Study

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Dentigerous cysts are benign odontogenic lesions associated with the crowns of impacted teeth and are the second most common odontogenic cyst after radicular cysts. Despite being described as slow-growing, their growth has not been numerically quantified. This study aims to determine the radiological growth rate of dentigerous cysts through quantitative analysis, to clarify their biological behavior, improve clinical management, and guide future research by filling a significant gap in the literature. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> In this retrospective study, records of 187 patients diagnosed with dentigerous cysts at Dicle University between 2020 and 2024 were reviewed. Twelve patients with cysts associated with mandibular impacted third molars and at least two high-quality panoramic radiographs taken at different time points were included. In all of these patients with adequate and suitable radiographic records, the dentigerous cysts were associated with mandibular third molars, which contributed to the standardization of imaging and measurements. All images were obtained using the same digital system and converted to DICOM format. Maximum anteroposterior (A-P) and inferosuperior (I-S) dimensions were measured twice by the same examiner, and mean values were recorded. Follow-up intervals were noted, and monthly dimensional changes were evaluated. Due to the rarity of untreated cases, a sample of only 12 patients was considered meaningful. <i>Results:</i> Most patients were female, with no significant gender differences in age or follow-up time. Cyst dimensions increased over time, showing marked enlargement in the anteroposterior (A-P) direction and a similar upward trend in the inferosuperior (I-S) dimension. <i>Conclusions:</i> In our study, growth in the anteroposterior direction was higher than that in the inferosuperior direction, and no significant differences in growth rates were observed with respect to sex or age.