RESUMO
Odontomas are benign tumor of odontogenic origin characterized by their slow growth. They may lead to interference with eruption of its associated tooth. A retrospective study was conducted on patients with odontoma of the jaws who were treated between 1999 and 2006. Patients were analyzed with regard to the following parameters: age, gender, anatomic location, size of the lesion, histopathological classification, and associated tooth. Fifteen patients with odontomas of the jaws were included, [8 females and 7 males]. Their age ranged from 9 to 38 years [mean 21.1 years]. Of the 15 cases, 11 were complex odontoma, and 4 were compound odontoma. Whereas no site preference for complex odontoma, compound odontoma had a predilection for the anterior maxilla. Although odontoma has a limited growth potential, it should be removed because it contains various tooth formulations that can predispose to cystic change, interference with eruption of permanent teeth and cause considerable destruction of bone