A retrospective analysis of the characteristics, treatment and follow-up of 26 odontomas in Greek children

Abstract

Odontomas represent the most common type of odontogenic jaw tumors among patients younger than 20 years of age. Clinically, they are often associated with eruption failure of adjacent permanent teeth, and are classified as compound and complex. The aim of the present retrospective study was to present the characteristics, treatment approach and outcome of odontomas in Greek children, over a ten-year period. Twenty six patients, 2 to 14 years of age (mean 9.3 years), with odontomas treated during the years 1999-2008 at the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of a Children's Hospital, were included in the study. Data from patients' files were retrieved and they were recalled for review. Odontomas were equally distributed in the maxilla and mandible and 42.3% of them were located in the anterior maxilla. Of the odontomas, 80.7% were related to disturbances in tooth eruption. Bone expansion was observed in 65.3% of the cases. All odontomas were surgically removed, and related impacted permanent teeth were either left to erupt spontaneously, orthodontically guided into occlusion or were removed. Orthodontic intervention appeared to be necessary in older children, while in younger children spontaneous eruption was frequent. In the present study, odontomas were associated with unerupted or impacted teeth. Radiographic examination was essential to verify the presence of the tumor and early removal prevented tooth eruption failure and disturbances in a majority of the cases.

Large Complex Odontoma in Mandible: A Case Report

“…Some studies emphasise the female predilection 7 , on the contrary, some of them connect their results with odontoma tendency to occur more in men. 6 There are also studies pointing out that there is no predilection for gender. 8,9 In this case report, pathogenesis wasn't clear and patient didn't have any trauma history.…”

“…4 The pathogenesis is not clear, but trauma during primary dentition, heredity, and genetic mutations are accepted possible etiologic factors. 6 They are a common cause of symptomless tooth impaction. 1 There is currently no consistent evidence that odontomas have a predilection for a specific gender.…”

“…Therefore all cases of odontoma should be sent to the histologic examination for accurate diagnosis. 6 In this case, we performed CT to analyze the degree of the relationship of the complex odontoma to inferior alveolar nerve. Panoramic radiography did not provided sufficient information for treatment planning.…”

Orthosurgical Management of Odontome-Associated Maxillary Central Incisor Impaction

“…WHO defined this lesion as "a malformation in which all the dental tissues are represented, individual tissues being mainly formed but occurring in more or less disorderly pattern." Odontoma is probably the most common type of odontogenic tumor or hamartomas [2] which histologically comprises of a complex picture of differentiated epithelial, mesenchymal cells which may be derived from ameloblasts or odontogenic epithelium [3][4][5]. Hence, an odontoma is a benign mixed tumor and differs from a true neoplasm [6].…”

Compound odontoma causing impaction of permanent maxillary incisors with associated ghost cell keratinization: A case report

“…[3] The pathogenesis of odontomas is thought to be associated with trauma during development of primary dentition, hereditary anomalies (Gardner's syndrome, Hermann's syndrome, basal cell nevus syndrome), odontoblastic hyperactivity or alterations of the genetic mechanisms accountable for scheming dental growth. [4,5] Hitchin recommended that odontomas are moreover inherited or owing to an altered gene or intervention with genetic control of tooth growth postnatally. Heredity is a probable issue, and constant lamina might be the hidden hereditary developmental anomaly.…”