title: Jaw cysts - filling or no filling after enucleation? A review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Jaw cysts are common lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region. Enucleation of the lesions and primary closure of the defects, the so-called "cystectomy", has evolved as the treatment of choice. In order to reduce infections and to accelerate bone regeneration, different types of bone grafts are increasingly investigated for defect filling.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present review reflects the most recent studies using autogenous, allogenic, xenogenic and alloplastic bone grafts and compares the results to current investigations about conservative cyst enucleation without using any filling materials. Relevant studies with significant patient sample sizes were electronically searched in PubMed and Medline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simple cyst enucleation and blood clot healing show low complication rates and sufficient bone regeneration even in large defects. Prospective randomized trials comparing the additional use of filling materials to the "cystectomy" are rare. Currently available data do not indicate the superiority of additional bone grafts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enucleation of jaw cysts and primary closure without bone substitutes remains "state of the art" in most cases.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Regensburg, Germany. tobias.ettl@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Ettl
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Gosau
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Sader
authors: Torsten E
authors: TE
authors: Reichert
mesh_terms: D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007570:Jaw Cysts / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes