Detection of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Intensity in Asymptomatic Fully Impacted Lower Third Molar Follicles of Smoking and Nonsmoking Patients

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. STUDY DESIGN 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.