Evaluation of pathogenicity of the tissues surrounding partially and fully impacted teeth in smokers and non-smokers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of cell cycle transcription factors p53 and Ki67 in dental follicle cells of asymptomatic impacted teeth to determine the propensity for precancerous lesions. One hundred impacted third molar teeth follicle tissues from 100 patients were used in the research. Following formaldehyde fixation, expression of p53 and Ki67 were determined by immunohistochemical staining, and pathologic evaluation was carried out in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained specimens. The results were correlated according to the age, gender, smoking habits, and degree of tooth impaction in the patients. Histopathological observation revealed the presence of inflammation, granulation tissue, and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. Dysplasia and neoplastic changes were not detected. A positive correlation was present between Ki67 and p53 (P≤0.01). A Significant increase of p53 was detected in follicular tissues of teeth partially exposed to the oral environment. The immunohistochemical expression of p53 was positively associated with the state of the tooth impaction; however, the impact of the smoking habits of the patients on the cell cycle transcription factor expression was somehow inconclusive within the limitations of this research.