OBJECTIVES: Odontoma arising in the extraosseous soft tissue is extremely uncommon. Two forms of odontoma are presently recognized: peripheral odontoma and erupted odontoma. We report an erupted odontoma arising in the posterior maxilla, and discuss the main differences between both forms of clinical presentation. STUDY DESIGN: Case study. RESULTS: A 23-year-old man presented with a firm gingival mass on the left posterior maxilla, that had gradually enlarged over one year. Orthopantomography showed a dense radiopaque mass occupying the posterior portion of the left maxilla. The pathology was reported as complex odontoma. CONCLUSIONS: This is the eleventh reported case of erupted odontoma. Unlike peripheral odontoma, erupted odontoma is generally a complex odontoma, and affects older patients.
OBJECTIVES:Odontoma arising in the extraosseous soft tissue is extremely uncommon. Two forms of odontoma are presently recognized: peripheral odontoma and erupted odontoma. We report an erupted odontoma arising in the posterior maxilla, and discuss the main differences between both forms of clinical presentation. STUDY DESIGN: Case study. RESULTS: A 23-year-old man presented with a firm gingival mass on the left posterior maxilla, that had gradually enlarged over one year. Orthopantomography showed a dense radiopaque mass occupying the posterior portion of the left maxilla. The pathology was reported as complex odontoma. CONCLUSIONS: This is the eleventh reported case of erupted odontoma. Unlike peripheral odontoma, erupted odontoma is generally a complex odontoma, and affects older patients.