[Should an odontoma be considered as a developing tumor?]

The authors review the classification of these odontogenic epithelial tumours and propose the hypothesis of a direct relationship between the ameloblastic odontoma and the complex odontoma, which represents the advanced stage of the first tumour. Thus, the odontoma can be considered to be an evolutive tumour. This hypothesis is illustrated by a case report which was associated with confusion concerning the histology. Similar cases in the literature show that the same lesion is described by a variety of names. Ameloblastic odontoma is the most logical terminology and should be the only one used. The appearance of differentiation towards the production of dental tissue in an ameloblastic type of tumour is therefore a good prognostic factor. These tumours predominantly occur in the posterior zones of the bony bases and are usually discovered between the ages of 10 and 30 years.