Peripheral developing odontoma in newborn. Report of two cases andliterature review

ABSTRACT

Extra-osseous odontogenic tumors are rarely observed. However, it is widely accepted that the remains of odontogenicepithelium entrapped in the oral soft tissues may be a possible source for peripheral odontogenic tumorsdifferentiation. Peripheral developing odontoma is considered exceptionally rare, since few similar cases are describedin the English-related literature under diverse nomenclature, such as irregular eruption, ectopic tooth, ectopicsoft-tissue mesiodens, ectopic odontoma and extra-osseous tooth germ. Previously reported cases invariablyaffected children and surgical exploration revealed tooth germs exclusively embedded in the soft tissue withoutbone involvement. Microscopically, all these cases exhibited developing tooth germs composed of ameloblasts,enamel matrix, odontoblastic layer, dentin and dental papilla and the morphological findings seem to depend onthe developmental stage of each tooth germ at discovery. Thus, we believe that it is relevant to report two additionalcases that were recently diagnosed in Brazil and Guatemala, focusing on their nomenclature, correctdiagnosis and further treatment (AU)