A 36-year-old man had a polycystic keratocyst in the mandible extended from the right second molar to the second premolar of the left side. Aspiration yielded yellowish fluid mixed with some whitish semisolid material. Vitality tests of the right lateral incisor, canine and first premolar were negative. Under general anesthesia, the cyst was enucleated and apicoectomies of the teeth from the right first molar to the left first premolar were performed. The mandibular defect was immediately filled with 15 gm hydroxylapatite particles and the soft tissue was closed as routine. In the healing period, the wound at the buccal gingiva opposite the right first and second molars was dehisced and infected. Some hydroxylapatite particles were lost in that area. After appropriate wound care and root canal therapy of the right second molar, the wound eventually healed. In the follow-up period of more than 5 years, there were 3 occasions of recurrence. The authors recommend that, for such lesion as keratocyst with high recurrence rate, it is not suitable to graft the jaw defect with hydroxylapatite particles after complete eradication of the lesion.