## 3 Results
### CBCT and Histological Evaluation of the DFs  
According to [PERSON]'s classification, three of the impacted third molars (from two females) were stage 5, six (four from males and two from females) stage 6 and four (three from males and one from females) stage 7. The mean (\(\pm\)SD) and range of the maximum width of the DFs were mm 1.35 (\(\pm\)0.47) and 0.71-2.21 mm, respectively. Based on gender, the mean (\(\pm\)SD) and range of the maximum width of the DFs were mm 1.43 (\(\pm\)0.45) and mm 0.71-2.12 in males, and mm 1.26 (\(\pm\)0.52) and mm 0.72-2.21 in females, respectively. Statistical analysis failed to reveal significant differences between males and females, and no statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the maximum width of the DF and patient gender (\(\chi^{2}\) = 0.929; \(p\) = 0.629) or [PERSON]'s stage (\(\chi^{2}\) = 0.3375; \(p\) = 0.8447). Figure 2: Representative histological images of the epithelial lining of the DF and of the parameters evaluated in this study. The epithelial lining of the DF appears cuboidal (**A**) or squamous (**B**). In (**C**), the squamous epithelial lining is atrophic, spongiotic and inflamed. Inflammatory infiltrates are also present in the superficial (asterisk in (C)) and in the deeper (**D**) portion of the DF connective tissue. Two odontogenic epithelial remnants are illustrated in (**E**) (arrows). The images in (**F**,**G**) show the dense (fibrosis) and loose (mysovid degeneration) appearance of the DF connective tissue, respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin. Bars: 50 \(\mu\)m.  
At a histological level, all DFs showed some epithelial lining. As expected from the age of the patients [3; 45], reduced enamel epithelium was predominant. Five DFs (38.46%) showed focal squamous metaplasia, two (15.38%) and three (23.07%) demonstrated some degree of epithelial atrophy and spongiosis, respectively, nine (69.23%) odontogenic remnants, four (30.76%) some degree of fibrosis, and eight (61.53%) mild mesenchymal myxoid degeneration. Odontogenic residues were occasionally centered by calcifications and detected in four of the DFs with squamous metaplasia, in two with some degree of fibrosis and in six with mild mesenchymal myxoid degeneration. These stromal changes were observed in four DFs with squamous metaplasia. Inflammation was detected in two DFs (15.39%) from the same patient (male, 16 years). In the right DF, it involved both the connective tissue and the metaplastic squamous epithelium, was graded as mild in the epithelium and moderate/severe in the connective tissue and included both neutrophil granulocytes (that were predominant within the epithelium) and lymphocytes. In the left DF, it was limited to the connective tissue, was graded as mild and included only mononucleated leucocytes. Focal erosion was detected in one DF (7.7%, the right DF described above) while ulcer and granulation tissue were consistently absent. Statistical analysis failed to reveal significant differences between males and females. A synopsis of the histological semi-quantitative analysis is reported in Table 1.  
A correlation matrix was used to summarize the data for statistical analysis. The coefficients between the different clinical-pathological variables are reported in Figure 3.