Epidemiological and CBCT characterizations of odontomas: A retrospective study of 87,590 subjects

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the epidemiological and three-dimensional (3D) radiological characterizations of odontomas, as well as the spatial relationship between odontomas and gubernaculum tracts (GT). Materials and Methods: We retrieved the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data of 87,590 patients. Dentition, location, type, diameter of the odontomas, width of the dental follicle (DF), the spatial relationship between the odontoma and GT, and the influence on adjacent teeth were evaluated. Results: Significant differences were found in age, dentition, location, Max/Min diameter, width of DF, impaction, retention, and root bending of adjacent teeth among different spatial relationships between the odontoma and GT (all p < 0.05), as well as in age, type and size, absence, impaction, malposition, and retention of adjacent teeth among different locations of odontomas (all p < 0.05). Compared to the odontomas without impaction, those with impaction had larger diameter (p < 0.05 in all directions). This statistically significant association was consistent for odontomas with malposition, while no similar result was observed in the maximum diameter. Conclusion: Our findings provide the preliminary data for clinicians to comprehensively understand the incidence, radiographic characterizations and symptoms of odontoma in Chinese population.