• Composed of proliferating odontogenic epithelium in a cellular ectomesenchyme resembling the dental papilla.

• Odontomas are composed of all mature components of dental hard & soft tissues: Enamel, dentin & pulp.

• Because of their limited slow growth and well differentiation – considered hamartomas rather than true neoplasms

Clinical Features:

1. Interfere with eruption of permanent teeth.

2. No sex predilection

3. Age: 2nd decades

4. Asymptomatic in nature

5. Associated with impacted, malpositioned teeth.

6. Cause malformation and displacement of adjacent teeth

• Early lesion: Radiolucent with smooth, well defined contours between the roots of teeth.
• Later stage: Radiopaque.

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Types of Odontomas:

• Complex odontoma (less common)
• Compound Odontoma

1. Complex Odontoma:

• Location: Posterior region of either Jaw. (70% – Mandibular Molars)

• Composed of haphazardly arranged dental hard and soft tissue with no resemblance to normal tooth.

• Arises from normal tooth follicle.

2. Compound Odontoma:

• Location: Anterior maxilla (62% – unerupted canine)

• Collection of small radio-opaque masses, some/all may be tooth like structures “denticles“

• Formed by exuberant growth of dental lamina or proliferation of enamel organ

Histological features:

Differential Diagnosis:

• Periapical cemental dysplasia
• Cemento-ossifying fibroma
• Focal sclerosing osteitis
• Cementoblastoma

Treatment: Surgical Removal

References: Shafer’sTextbook Of Oral Pathology; Random google images