DENTAL FOLLICLE: ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF ODONTOGENIC CYSTS an‎d TUMOURS

Dental follicle is ecto-mesenchymal derived component of the tooth germ, adjacent to the crown of unerupted tooth. It has many roles during tooth development and eruption. During the impacted tooth surgery, pericoronal and dental follicular tissues are enucleating. However, in rare cases they are submitting for histopathologic evaluation, although it is known, that these tissues are responsible for the occurrence and development of pathologic conditions, such as infections, odontogenic cysts, and tumors.Dental follicle was the subject of many immunohistochemical studies, which have shown a proliferative potential of the dental follicle cells justifying a profilactic removal of the impacted teeth. According to review of relevant literature, the aim of this article is to describe and discuss importance of dental follicle in oral and maxillofacial surgery.