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Odontoma

Dr Jeremy Jones and Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

An odontoma is one of the most common of mandibular lesions encountered, and the most common odontogenic tumours of the mandible (see WHO classification scheme for odontogenic tumours (1992) ) accounting for up to two thirds of all such tumours (the next most common are ameloblastomas making up the majority of the remaining third) .

Epidemiology

Typically diagnosed in the 2^nd decade of life

Pathology

They can be thought of a 'tooth hamartomas' with the lesion consisting of various tooth components (dentin, enamel).

They are divided histologically into:

complex odontoma
compound odontoma : identifiable tooth components

Associations

Approximately half will be associated with an unerupted tooth, the rest being diagnosed both prior to or after tooth eruption.

Radiographic features

Initially the tumour is lucent, but with time it develops initially small calcifications which eventually coalesce to form a radiodense lesion with a lucent rim.