INTRODUCTION:
Odontomas are the most prevalent odontogenic tumors of the jaws in an
interval of 35 to 76%, characterized by their non-aggressive character
[1]. Their discovery is usually accidental during routine
radiological examinations given their asymptomatic evolution in most
cases [2]. At the beginning of their discovery, odontomas were
considered as true tumors. But very quickly, this appellation
disappeared to be replaced by the notion of hamartomas malformations as
they develop from odontogenic epithelium and ectomesenchyme components,
with the capacity of forming enamel, dentin and cementum [3]. The
etiopathogenesis of these tumors is unknown. However, trauma in primary
dentition, periodontal Malassez remains, inflammatory processes,
odontoblastic hyperactivity and hereditary anomalies are considered as
possible etiological factors [2]. The world Health Organization
(WHO) classified odontomas into two variants: compound and complex
[4]. The compound form consists of all the tissue structures
involved in the formation of the teeth; these different tissue
structures can be associated with each other to form a variable number
of tooth-like structures, called “odontoids”. Although, a complex
odontoma is a malformation in which all dental tissues are represented
and arranged inan anarchic way [4]. The complex odontomas appear to
be more common than composite odontomas [3] .The distribution
between sexes is approximately equal, and the average age of the
patients is between 20 and 30 years in most studies [5]. Complex
odontomas occur commonly in posterior region of the mandible, while
compound odontomas occur principally in the anterior part of the maxilla
[3]. However, odontomas rarely show both radiological and
histological features of compound and complex types together and this
type of odontoma is known by compound-complex odontoma in the literature
[5].
We aim to present a rare case of a large compound- complex odontoma,
occurring in the mandible in a young patient.