• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.499-506
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• 1999

The odontoma is relatively a common benign odontogenic tumor and caused by overgrowth of odontogenic tissues. The recent classification by World Health Organization divides odontoma into 2 groups such as compound odontoma and complex odontoma. Compound odontoma comprises dental tissues, resembling the morphology of a tooth and has predilection for the anterior maxilla. In contrast, complex odontoma has unorganized mass, not resembling the normal tooth and has predilection for the posterior mandible. The etiology of odontoma is unknown and almost asymptomatic. So, it usually is found in routine radiographic examination, and most common presenting symptom is impacted or unerupted permanent teeth and retained primary teeth. It can occurs almost anywhere in jaws. It is desirable that odontoma should be removed by surgical enucleation including follicle and surrounding soft tissues. Considering the age and behavioral cooperation of patient, the development of permanent dentition, the location of odontoma in jaw, the need for the concomitant operative dentistry, operation is performed in outpatient department with/without sedation or under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. In this case report, 2 patients with compound odontoma were treated by surgical enucleation including follicle and surrounding soft tissues. One patient, about 5 years old, was treated under general anesthesia and concomitant operative dentistry was performed. The other patient, about 11 years old, was treated under local anesthesia in outpatient department. In 2 cases, after 4 months, surgical defects were filled with new bone and normalization of eruption path of impacted permanent teeth was observed.