Background Diagnosis of jaw cysts is challenging in general dental practice, and most cases are incidentally discovered through routine dental radiography. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology and treatment of odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts to better understand the status of these lesions in populations in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Material and Methods This retrospective study was conducted on patients treated at four different hospitals in Makassar between January 2011 and June 2017. Patients diagnosed as having odontogenic or non-odontogenic cysts were included in the study. Information on variables such as sex, age, histopathological, and anatomical distributions was collected. Statistical analyses were performed using an independent T-test and the Pearson chi-square test ( p < 0.05). Results A total of 173 samples were collected, of which only 60 were histopathologically analyzed. The patients’ mean age was 30.3 years. The cysts occurred more frequently in women and in the anterior maxilla, followed by the posterior mandible. The radicular cyst was the most prevalent type, followed by the dentigerous cyst. Most cysts were treated with enucleation. Of the patients, 72.8% were followed up, of whom 3.2% had a recurrence and only 19.1% had complaints of clinical symptoms. Conclusions Our findings indicate that odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts widely vary in terms of incidence, with some exhibiting a predilection for specific ages and sites and specific sex. Knowledge of these factors could be useful for both clinicians and pathologists in the diagnosis and choice of the appropriate treatment plan. Key words: Cyst, epidemiology, odontogenic, non-odontogenic, treatment.