[Prevention of the eruption of an upper later incisor by a compound odontoma. Case report].

Odontomas are the most common odontogenic tumours. They are considered as hamartomas - a local tissue malformation without autonomous growth potential - and are non-neoplastic. Clinically and histopathologically, compound and complex odontomas can be differentiated. Compound odontomas consist of a varying number of tooth-like structures and histology show dental tissues in an orderly pattern. Most often compound odontomas are diagnosed in young patients in the anterior maxilla. Patients are rarely complaining of symptoms and they are usually diagnosed during routine radiographic examinations or due to late eruption of permanent or persistence of deciduous teeth. The following case report presents a disturbed eruption of a lateral right incisor of the maxilla in a 8-year old female patient. Clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics of this lesion will be discussed as well as therapy and follow-up.