Surgical approach to compound odontoma: clinical case report

Abstract

Introduction: Odontomas are benign lesions composed of well-differentiated but disorganized odontogenic tissue in an abnormal location. These tumors are generally asymptomatic and are detected through panoramic radiography during the second or third decade of life. Case presentation: A 44-year-old patient was treated at the Dental Clinic of Universidad Hemisferios. The patient described the surgical approach to a compound odontoma in the maxilla using a minimally invasive procedure. Diagnosis was based on panoramic radiography and computed axial tomography, which showed the presence of a compound odontoma, supernumerary teeth, and impacted dental organs, with proximity to other teeth and relevant anatomical structures, such as the maxillary sinus. The surgical procedure consisted of enucleation of the odontoma using a minimally invasive technique, with a focus on preserving surrounding structures. The surgical intervention allowed for complete excision of the lesion without immediate complications. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of compound odontoma. During the postoperative period, clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed to evaluate the patient’s progress, with no evidence of recurrence or functional or
structural alterations. Discussion: The benign tumors that occur most frequently in the oral cavity are odontomas. It should be mentioned that their etiology is still unknown, although it is associated with hereditary diseases, trauma or infectious processes. In this case, the surgical approach to compound odontoma was presented, identifying inflammatory processes, Malassez epithelial remnants and trauma to the primary dentition as possible etiological factors. Conclusions: Based on the available evidence, surgical enucleation is the treatment of choice to avoid local complications, such as tooth displacement, bone destruction or the formation of cystic or tumorous lesions, contributing to the preservation of oral health.