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.