Impacted maxillary cuspid with odontoma formation

An analysis of the interrelationship of the mixed odontogenic tumors--ameloblastic fibroma, ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, and the odontomas

The mixed odontogenic tumors--ameloblastic fibroma, ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, and the odontomas--represent a group of lesions of which some are neoplastic and some are hamartomatous. Regarding data on age, sex distribution, and site of occurrence of the various lesions, it was concluded that the ameloblastic fibroma represents a separate entity that does not develop into a more differentiated odontogenic lesion and that the ameloblastic fibro-odontoma is an immature complex odontoma. Moreover, it was noted that the distribution according to site of the ameloblastic fibro-odontoma and complex odontoma was dependent on age, both lesions showing a more posteriorly located site of predilection with increasing age. Finally, it is supposed that age-related factors determine whether an aberrant development of the odontogenic tissues exhibits a hamartomatous or a neoplastic nature.

Compound and complex odontomas

One hundred forty-nine cases of odontoma were reviewed: sixty-five cases were accepted from the literature, and eighty-four additional cases were included from the files of the Pathology Department of the Emory University School of Dentistry. The cases were combined and analyzed together. Odontomas are most often diagnosed in the second decade of life. Sixty-five per cent of all odontomas occur in the maxilla. Compound odontomas are more common in the anterior maxilla, whereas complex odontomas occur more frequently in the posterior jaws. A slight predominance in males was seen. The most common presenting symptom was an impacted tooth with retention of deciduous teeth.