Bilateral kissing molars involving a dentigerous cyst: A case report and literature review

Abstract

“Kissing molars (KMs)” is a rare phenomenon defined as impacted molars contacting the occlusal surface in a single follicular space and their roots pointing in opposite directions. Only 8 cases of bilateral KMs are reported in the literature. This article describes a case of mandibular bilateral KMs with a unilateral dentigerous cyst and the management of this condition. Furthermore, we provide a literature review of true-KMs reported in the English and Japanese literature. A 33-year-old woman presented to our department with chief complaints of swelling and pain in the right side of the mandible. Surgical removal of the right-side impacted molars was performed under general anesthesia. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of a dentigerous cyst. After the surgical procedure, there were no signs of infection or paresthesia in the inferior alveolar nerve. In our review, the most frequent classification of true-KMs is unilateral Class Ⅱ, accounting for approximately half of all true-KMs. It is possible for asymptomatic true-KMs to cause cystic changes and subjective symptoms. Approximately half of all true-KMs cases had subjective symptoms. Most true-KMs had been removed, and the orthodontic treatment case for true-KMs has not yet been reported. The management of KMs should be planned according to patient age, classification of KMs, symptoms, cystic changes and depth of the embedded teeth.