Pathogenesis (development of disease)
Odontogenic tumors arise from epithelial, ectomesenchymal, or mesenchymal underlying tissues that would give rise to the dental organ in normal development. They develop into hamartomas (tumors arising from malformation of embryonic tissue), nonneoplastic changes, or neoplasms (new formation).
Etiology (causes)
Biographic causes
- Sex ratio
- Classic ameloblastoma: 1: 1
- Desmoplastic ameloblastoma: 1: 1
- Peripheral ameloblastoma: males are affected twice as often as females.
- Unicystic ameloblastoma: males: females = 1.5: 1.
- Ameloblastic fibroma: males:females = 1.4: 1
- Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT): women are affected twice as often as men.
- Fibromyxoma: males: females = 1: 1.5.
- Calcifying odontogenic cyst: males: females = 1: 1
- Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (KEOT): 1: 1
- Odontomas: Males are more commonly affected than females.
- Benign cementoblastoma: males: females = 1: 1.2
