A Ghost in a Host! - An Odontome with Unusual Presentation

Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Peoples College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, IndiaOdontomas are hamartomas, being of two types: Compound and complex and are nonaggressive hamartomatous developmental malformations or tumors of odontogenic origin, which consists of enamel, dentin, cementum and pulpal tissue. Th ey are usually asymptomatic and diagnosed on routine radiological studies in the second and third decades of life. Compound variety is more of ten found in anterior maxilla; complex occurs in molar areas of either jaw. Mean age of occurrence is 12-16 years. Radiographically, they present as radiopacities surrounded by a radiolucent rim in complex variety and tooth like structures of diff erent size and shape surrounded by radiolucency in compound variety. Here, we have discussed a rare case of erupting complex odontoma associated with an impacted mandibular third molar.