SPONTANEOUS ERUPTION OF IMPACTED MAXILLARY PRIMARY CANINE AFTER REMOVAL OF ODONTOMA

Abstract I. IntroductionOdontomas are the most common types of odontogenictumors, constitutingapproximately 70% of all odonto-genic tumors of the jaws. They are composed of variousformations of dental tissueincluding enamel, dentin, ce-mentum and sometimes pulp 1) . Odontomas are consid-ered to be developmental anomalies resulting from thegrowth of completely differentiated epithelial and mes-enchymal cells that give rise to functional ameloblastand odontoblast 2) .Odontomas are subdivided into compound and complextypes by degrees of morphodifferentiation or similaritieswith normal tooth structures. Compound odontomasconsist of a small malformed tooth having normal enam-el,dentin and cementum. They are usually located in theupper incisor areas and are mostly found in 6~10-year-olds 3) . Complex odontomas consist of a conglomeratemass of less organized dental tissues that seldom showteeth or tooth-like structures compared with compoundodontomas. Complex odontomas are usually located inthe first or second molar areas of the mandible and moreoften occur in males. The lesions constitute about 25%of all odontomas and about 22% of all odontogenic tu-mors of the jaw