Chronic inflammation around painless partially erupted third molars.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the histologic host response in chronic, symptomless pericoronitis.


METHODS
Gingival mucosal (n = 20) and dental follicle (n = 20) samples were collected during extraction from patients with pericoronitis and clinically healthy control subjects. Antibodies-recognizing macrophages (CD68), natural killer cells (CD56), T cells (CD2), helper T cells (CD4), suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD8), and neutrophils (lactoferrin) were applied in a labelled streptavidin-biotin method by using a DAKO TechMate staining robot.


RESULTS
Macrophage was the most numerous kind of cell in pericoronitis, but CD2+ T lymphocytes, with a normal CD4/CD8 ratio, were also increased (P < .01). Neutrophils were not increased and did not show signs of activation. Dental follicles did not contain increased numbers of inflammatory cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This type of pericoronitis is a chronic/smoldering, rather than an acute/purulent, infection. Because of the chronic and often symptomless nature of pericoronitis, various long-term sequelae may result, which may lead to the need for extraction.
Laine
Mikael
M
Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki Hospital, City of Helsinki, Finland.
Ventä
Irja
I
Hyrkäs
Tapio
T
Ma
Jian
J
Konttinen
Yrjö T
YT
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000473:pathology*; D009504:Neutrophils; D010497:Pericoronitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D014097:Tooth, Unerupted / Q000150:complications*