Pathological changes and immunoexpression of p63 gene in dental follicles of asymptomatic impacted lower third molars: an immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the pathologic changes and immunoexpressivity of p63 gene in dental follicles (DFs) of asymptomatic partially and completely impacted lower third molars.


METHODS
Clinical and radiologic examinations included 50 DFs with no signs of abnormal radiolucency (follicular space <2.5 mm), taken from 50 patients.


RESULTS
Histopathologic examinations of the specimens revealed 47 normal dental follicular tissues, 1 ameloblastoma, and 2 dentigerous cysts. p63 Immunoexpressivity was stronger in the DFs of the group with completely impacted teeth (64%),than it was in the case of DFs of the group with partially impacted teeth (40%).


CONCLUSIONS
Stronger p63 gene immunoexpression in the group with completely impacted teeth might be a consequence of bigger number of stem cells than it is in the case of the group with partially impacted teeth. This study also supports prophylactic removal of impacted teeth because of the development of pathologies associated with them.
Brkić
Amila
A
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University Capa, Istanbul, Turkey. amilabrkic@hotmail.com
Mutlu
Sevcihan
S
Koçak-Berberoğlu
Hülya
H
Olgaç
Vakur
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003803:Dentigerous Cyst / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins