Compound odontoma associated with an impacted permanent central incisor

In this case report, an eleven-year-old female presented to a rural dental clinic for routine dental examination. Upon evaluation of the dentition, the attending dentist discovered an over-retained primary tooth. Radiographically, a compound odontoma was present, gingival to an unerupted permanent maxillary left central incisor (number nine) and apical to the erupted primary central incisor (F). The odontoma and its overlying primary tooth were removed by an oral surgeon. The extraction site has healed uneventfully and an Orthodontic treatment plan was formulated. The etiology of odontomas is unknown but thought to be caused by trauma, infection, inheritance and/or genetic mutation. These lesions are usually found in the second decade of life and are more common in male patients. Treatment consists of complete enucleation and curettage of the odontoma site.