An ameloblastoma is a benign, yet locally aggressive odontogenic tumour. The vast majority (80%) of ameloblastomas arise in the mandible, and unicystic ameloblastomas are commonly found in relation to an unerupted lower third molar. We present the case of a 39-year-old patient with an incidental finding of an enlarged dental follicle around an unerupted lower third molar that progressed to an extensive unicystic ameloblastoma. This ameloblastoma was decompressed and marsupialized before enucleation to reduce the risk of pathological fracture due to the extensive size of the tumour. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The case is relevant to general dental practitioners when considering monitoring dental follicles of unerupted teeth because the enlarged dental follicle described progressed to an extensive odontogenic tumour.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.