Abstract
We followed-up roentgenographically the growth of a compund odontoma for a peariod of 1 year 8 months.
The patient was a 6-year-old boy at the first visit. At this time, the lower permanent central incisors and left lateral incisor had erupted, but the right deciduous lateral incisor remained. X-ray examination revealed that the root resorption of the right deciduous lateral incisor was not evident, and the lower right permanent lateral incisor was impacted.
The right lower deciduous lateral incisor was extracted, and we followed-up roentgenographically the eruption condition of the impacted tooth.
8 months after the extraction the roentgenogram showed a radioopaque mass above the impacted tooth. The radioopacity and the size of the mass had increased during the 8 months. A clinical diagnosis of odontoma was made, and its removal was performed. The removed masses were two round calcified particles.
Microscopically, the masses consisted of young enamel, dentin and pulp, but root and cementum were not formed. A diagnosis of compound odontoma was made based on the histopathological examination.
The cause for this odontoma was the dental sac of the impacted right lateral incisor.
The right lateral incisor was prevented from erupting by the odontoma. The impacted tooth took almost 1 year to erupt after extirpation of the odontoma.
