title: Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor intensity in asymptomatic fully impacted lower third molar follicles of smoking and nonsmoking patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine whether smoking causes pathological changes, comparing intensity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in smokers' and nonsmokers' pericoronal follicles located around asymptomatic impacted lower third molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two dental follicles were collected from asymptomatic mandibular third molars of 41 smoker and 41 nonsmoker patients. Specimens were examined immunohistochemically using antibody against EGFR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of EGFR in smokers' pericoronal follicles was higher as compared with nonsmokers (P = 0.036). Also, high EGFR expression was detected in female smokers than in female nonsmokers (P = 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation between pack-years and EGFR expression intensity in male patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of pathological differentiation in pericoronal tissues of smoking patients is higher than in the nonsmoking patients. This factor may be taken into account when deciding whether to remove an asymptomatic impacted lower third molar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semra Kayaalti
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Özarslan
authors.forename: Timuçin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baykul
authors.forename: Kayhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Başak
authors.forename: Gülperi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koçer
authors.forename: Şenol
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Tüzüm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third; D012907:Smoking; D014095:Tooth, Impacted
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors