[Radiographic study of odontomas]

Odontomas are the most common benign odontogenic tumors with a high degree of differentiation and an excellent biological behavior. Three histological types are recognised: a) ameloblastic odontoma, b) coplex odontoma and c) compound odontoma. Usually these tumors are asymptomatic and the most frequent cause of discovery is the retention or impaction of a permanent tooth. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and radiographic features of these tumors and to determine the frequency and relation of odontomas to tooth impaction. Twenty six cases (14 males and 12 females) of histologically verified odontomas were studied and an effort was made in order to corellate the histological type of the tumors with the age, the sex, the location, the radiographic picture, the size of the lesion and the frequency and relation to the impacted teeth. The main conclusions of the study were: a) Odontomas are diagnosed more often in the first or second decade but the compound odontoma may be seen later in life. b) The most common location of odontomas is the anterior region of the maxilla, c) The radiographic picture of the complex odontoma is usually of the mixed radiolucent-radiopaque type, where compound odontoma is more often found as radiopacity or as non-typical tooth and d) Odontomas more often are located above the crown of the impacted tooth usually in maxillary incisors and canines.