Radicular cysts are by far the most common cyst occurring in the jaws.

The prognosis depends upon the type, size and location of a cyst. Most cysts are entirely benign, and some may require no treatment. Rarely, some cystic lesions represent locally aggressive tumors that may cause destruction of surrounding bone if left untreated. This type of cyst are usually removed with a margin of healthy bone to prevent recurrence of new cysts. If a cyst expands to a very large size, the mandible may be weakened such that a pathologic fracture occurs.

Periapical cysts comprise approximately 75% of the types of cysts found in the oral region. The ratio of individuals diagnosed with periapical cysts is 3:2 male to female, as well as individuals between 20 and 60 years old. Periapical cysts occur worldwide.

Types of Periapical cysts:

Apical: 70%

Lateral: 20%

Residual: 10%

The periapical cyst (also termed radicular cyst or inflammatory cyst) is the most common odontogenic cyst. Periapical is defined as "the tissues surrounding the apex of the root of a tooth" and a cyst is "a pathological cavity lined by epithelium, having fluid or gaseous content that is not created by the accumulation of pus." Most frequently located in the maxillary anterior region, it is caused by pulpal necrosis secondary to dental caries or trauma. The cyst has lining that is derived from the epithelial cell rests of Malassez which proliferate to form the cyst. Highly common in the oral cavity, the periapical cyst is asymptomatic, but highly significant because a secondary infection can cause pain and damage. In radiographs, it appears a radiolucency (dark area) around the apex of a tooth's root.

Smoking and tobacco use of any kind are associated with increased risk of dry socket. This may be partially due to the vasoconstrictive action of nicotine on small blood vessels. Abstaining from smoking in the days immediately following a dental extraction reduces the risk of a dry socket occurring.

The median alveolar cyst is a rare cyst, occurring in the bony alveolus between the maxillary central incisors. It is distinguished from a periapical cyst by the fact that adjacent teeth are vital.

Odontogenic cyst are a group of jaw cysts that are formed from tissues involved in odontogenesis (tooth development). Odontogenic cysts are closed sacs, and have a distinct membrane derived from rests of odontogenic epithelium. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. Intra-bony cysts are most common in the jaws, because the mandible and maxilla are the only bones with epithelial components. That odontogenic epithelium is critical in normal tooth development. However, epithelial rests may be the origin for the cyst lining later.

Not all oral cysts are odontogenic cyst. For example, mucous cyst of the oral mucosa and nasolabial duct cyst are not of odontogenic origin.

In addition, there are several conditions with so-called (radiographic) 'pseudocystic appearance' in jaws; ranging from anatomic variants such as Stafne static bone cyst, to the aggressive aneurysmal bone cyst.

Botryoid odontogenic cyst is a variant of the lateral periodontal cyst. It is more often found in middle-aged and older adults, and the teeth more likely affected are mandibular (lower) canines and premolars. On radiographs, the cyst appears "grape-like". Often patients with this condition are symptomatic.

The lateral periodontal cyst is a non-inflammatory developmental cyst that arises from the epithelial post-functional dental lamina, which is a remnant from odontogenesis. It is more common in middle-aged males. Usually asymptomatic, it presents as a regular well-corticated radiolucency on the side of a mandibular canine or premolar root. Histologically, the cyst appears similar to the gingival cyst of the adult, having a non-keratinized squamous epithelial lining. The involved tooth is usually vital and has no indication for root canal treatment unless the signs of non-vital or necrotic pulpal tissue were confirmed. The cysts arise from epithelial rest cells in the periodontal ligament, although it is unknown whether from the cell rests of Malassez, reduced enamel epithelium or dental lamina remnants, and are generally treated by surgical enucleation.

Treatment ranges from simple enucleation of the cyst to curettage to resection. For example, small radicular cyst may resolved after successful endodontic ("root-canal") treatment. Because of high recurrence potential and aggressive behaviour, curettage is recommended for keratocyst. However, the conservative enucleation is the treatment of choice for most odontogenic cysts. The removed cyst must be evaluated by pathologist to confirm the diagnosis, and to rule out other neoplastic lesions with similar clinical or radiographic features (e.g., cystic or solid ameloblastoma, central mucoepidermoid carcinoma). There are cysts, e.g. buccal bifurcation cyst with self-resolation nature, in which close observation can be employed unless the cyst is infected and symptomatic.

Gingival cyst of adult is a rare condition. The incidence is less than 0.5%. It is formed from the rests of dental lamina. It is found in the soft tissues on the buccal and labial portions of the jaw. It usually occurs on the facial gingiva as a single small flesh colored swelling, sometimes with a bluish hue due to the cystic fluid. Sometimes, it may occur in cluster, either unilaterally or bilaterally or on the lingual surface of the alveolar process. It is most commonly seen in the canine and premolar regions of the mandible, and are sometimes confused with lateral periodontal cysts. It is not normally problematic, but when it grows larger, it can cause some discomfort. It can be removed by simple surgical excision. They are developed late in life, generally up to the sixth decade of age.

Dry socket is more likely to occur following a difficult tooth extraction. It is thought that excessive force applied to the tooth, or excessive movement of the tooth burnishes the bony walls of the socket and crushes blood vessels, impairing the repair process. It has also been shown that dry socket is more likely to occur when an inexperienced surgeon performed the extraction, possibly because excessive force or excessive tooth movements are used.

Gingival cyst (or dental lamina cyst) is a type of cysts of the jaws that originates from the dental lamina and is found in the mouth parts. It is a superficial cyst in the alveolar mucosa. It can be seen inside the mouth as small and whistish bulge. Depending on the ages in which they develop, the cysts are classsfied into gingival cyst of newborn (or infant) and gingival cyst of adult. Structurally, the cyst is lined by thin epithelium and shows a lumen usually filled with desquamated keratin, occasionally containing inflammatory cells. The nodes are formes as a result of cystic degeneration of epithelial rests of the dental lamina (called the rests of Serres).

Gingival cyst was first described by a Czech physician Alois Epstein in 1880. In 1886, a German physician Heinrich Bohn described another type of cyst. Alfred Fromm introduced the classification of gingival cysts in 1967. According to him, gingival cysts of newborns can be further classsified based on their specific origin of the tissues as Epstein’s pearls, Bohn’s nodules and dental lamina cysts.

Stafne defect is uncommon, and has been reported to develop anywhere between the ages of 11 and 30 years old, (although the defect is developmental, it does not seem to be present form birth, implying that the lesion develops at a later age). Usually the defect is unilateral (on one side only) and most commonly occurs in men.

The botryoid odontogenic cyst is a multi-compartmentalized variant of the lateral periodontal cyst. It is similar to the lateral periodontal cyst in all its features except that its polycystic nature is often evident through its multilocular pattern on radiographs.

Nasopalatine duct cysts usually present as asymptomatic palatal swellings, but they may rarely be accompanied by pain and/or purulent discharge. The cysts are generally treated by .

The globulomaxillary cyst is a cyst that appears between a maxillary lateral incisor and the adjacent canine. It exhibits as an "inverted pear-shaped radiolucency" on radiographs, or X-ray films.

The globulomaxillary cyst often causes the roots of adjacent teeth to diverge.

This cyst should not be confused with a nasopalatine cyst.

The developmental origin has been disputed. Today, most literature agree based on overwhelming evidence that the cyst is predominantly of tooth origin (odontogenic), demonstrating findings consistent with periapical cysts, odontogenic keratocysts or lateral periodontal cysts.

The nasopalatine cyst is the most common non-odontogenic cyst of the oral cavity, at an estimated occurrence rate of 73%.

Although the treatment of the cyst was previously enuclation of the cyst with removal of the involved tooth or enuclation with root-canal treatment, the current management is enuclation with the preservation of the involved tooth. However, recent evidence suggests self-resolution of this type of cyst, thus close observation with meticulous oral hygiene measures can be employed unless the cyst is infected and symptomatic.

A dentigerous cyst or follicular cyst is an odontogenic cyst - thought to be of developmental origin - associated with the crown of an unerupted (or partially erupted) tooth. The cyst cavity is lined by epithelial cells derived from the reduced enamel epithelium of the tooth forming organ. Regarding its pathogenesis, it has been suggested that the pressure exerted by an erupting tooth on the follicle may obstruct venous flow inducing accumulation of exudate between the reduced enamel epithelium and the tooth crown.

In addition to the developmental origin, some authors have suggested that periapical inflammation of non-vital deciduous teeth in proximity to the follicles of unerupted permanent successors may be a factor for triggering this type of cyst formation.

Histologically a normal dental follicle is lined by enamel epithelium, whereas a dentigerous cyst is lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. Since the dentigerous cyst develops from follicular epithelium it has more potential for growth, differentiation and degeneration than a radicular cyst. Occasionally the wall of a dentigerous cyst may give rise to a more ominous mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Due to the tendency for dentigerous cysts to expand rapidly, they may cause pathological fractures of jaw bones.

On Fine needle aspiration, thin straw colored fluid is seen.

The usual radiographic appearance is that of a well-demarcated radiolucent lesion attached at an acute angle to the cervical area of an unerupted tooth. The border of the lesion may be radiopaque. The radiographic differentiation between a dentigerous cyst and a normal dental follicle is based merely on size. Radiographically, a dentigerous cyst should always be differentiated from a normal dental follicle. Dentigerous cysts are the most common cysts with this radiographic appearance. Radiographically the cyst appears unilocular with well defined margins and often sclerotic borders but sometimes it may be multilocular in appearance and may also have a continuous cystic membrane. Infected cysts show ill-defined margins. Follicular space more than 3mm is to be considered a dentigerous cyst.

Radiographically there are three types of dentigerous cyst, namely the Central type, Lateral type and the Circumferential type.

The most common location of dentigerous cysts are the Mandibular 3rd Molars and the Maxillary Canines, and they rarely involve deciduous teeth and are occasionally associated with odontomas.

A dentigerous cyst is often treated by excision of the cyst along with the extraction of the associated tooth.

In case of a large cyst marsupialization is done.

Blocked sebaceous glands, swollen hair follicles, high levels of testosterone and the use of androgenic anabolic steroids will cause such cysts.

A case has been reported of a sebaceous cyst being caused by the human botfly.

Hereditary causes of sebaceous cysts include Gardner's syndrome and basal cell nevus syndrome.

The standard treatment of COC is enucleation and curettage (E&C). Recurrence following E&C is rare.

Epidermoid cysts commonly result from implantation of epidermis into the dermis, as in trauma or surgery. They can also be caused by a blocked pore adjacent to a body piercing. They are also seen in Gardner's syndrome and Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome on the head and neck. They can be infected by bacteria and form a pimple-like shape.

This nasolabial cyst, also known as a nasoalveolar cyst, is located superficially in the soft tissues of the upper lip. Unlike most of the other developmental cysts, the nasolabial cyst is an example of an extraosseous cyst, one that occurs outside of bone. It will therefore not show up on a radiograph, or an X-ray film.

An eruption cyst, or eruption hematoma, is a bluish swelling that occurs on the soft tissue over an erupting tooth. It is usually found in children. The fluid in the cyst is sometimes clear creating a pale-coloured cyst although often they are blue. An eruption cyst (eruption hematoma) is a developmental soft-tissue cyst of odontogenic origin that forms over an erupting tooth.