This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with the treatment duration of dentigerous cysts in pediatric patients who underwent decompression as the primary treatment approach.

This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 5–13 years who presented to the Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University, with a diagnosis of dentigerous cyst. All cystic lesions were treated with decompression. The associations between demographic, lesion-related, and tooth-related factors and the treatment duration were evaluated.

: A total of 51 patients, including 29 females and 22 males, with a mean age of 8.94 ± 1.76 years, were included in this study. The mean treatment duration was 8.63 ± 6.45 months. Initial cyst volume was significantly associated with treatment duration in the univariable analysis ( p = 0.010), whereas the number of teeth associated with the cyst was the only independently significant factor in the multivariable model ( p = 0.008). Age, sex, affected jaw, cortical expansion, cortical perforation, tooth location, tooth orientation, buccolingual position, mesiodistal position, impaction depth, and root development were not significantly associated with treatment duration ( p > 0.05).

The number of teeth associated with the cyst was independently associated with treatment duration, whereas initial cyst volume was significant only in the univariable analysis. These findings suggest that the extent of tooth involvement may help estimate the anticipated duration of decompression treatment.