Compound odontoma. A case report

Abstract

Introduction: odontoma is a benign neoplastic lesion of fully differentiated epithelial and mesenchymal odontogenic cells that form enamel, dentin and cementum; by alterations in their development –and depending on the degree of morpho-differentiation– odontogenic cells are arranged more or less organized and grow slowly and painlessly. Two types of odontomas are recognized: compound and complex; in the compound odontoma are represented all the dental tissues with a pattern of ordered distribution. The treatment of choice is the exeresis of the lesion, complemented with the histological study to confirm the diagnosis; however, the extirpation in the stage of non-calcified tissue encloses the possibility of relapses.

Case presentation: female patient, with no history of oral trauma, who came to the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the General Teaching Provincial Hospital "Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola" due to absence of permanent teeth in the anteroinferior sector (left central and lateral incisors); the radiographic study showed six radiopaque dental formations, with radiolucent zones around and a morphological structure similar to that of the tooth, compatible with a compound odontoma. The patient was operated on; later, the results of the anatomopathological examination corroborated the diagnosis. Four months after the intervention, the patient's prosthetic rehabilitation was begun.

Conclusions: the treatment of odontomas consists of the enucleation and curettage of the tumor; in cases of large odontomas, which may have multiple components, it is recommended to take perioperative radiographs to confirm the removal of all minute calcified structures.