Ameloblastoma is a rare tumor that develops in the bones of the mouth, especially in the jaw, causing symptoms only when it is very large, such as swelling of the face or difficulty moving the mouth; in other cases, it is common to be detected only during routine dental exams, such as X-rays or MRIs, for example.
Ameloblastoma is generally benign and is more common in men age 30 to 50, however, unicystic ameloblastoma may also appear before age 30.
- Although life-threatening.
- Ameloblastoma gradually destroys the jaw bone and therefore surgical treatment should be done as soon as possible after diagnosis to remove the tumor and prevent destruction of the bones in the mouth.
In most cases, ameloblastoma does not cause symptoms and is discovered by chance during routine dental exams; however, some people may have symptoms such as:
Swelling caused by ameloblastoma usually appears in the jaw, but it can also occur in the jaw; in some cases, the person may also experience mild and constant pain in the molar region.
Diagnosis of ameloblastoma is done by biopsy to evaluate tumor cells in the lab, however, the dentist may suspect ameloblastoma after x-ray exams or CT scans, referring the patient to an area dentist.
There are 3 main types of ameloblastoma
There is also an malignant ameloblastoma, rare but which can occur even without being preceded by benign ameloblastoma and that can metastatize.
Treatment for ameloblastoma should be guided by a dentist and surgery is usually done to remove the tumor, the part of the bone that has been affected, and some of the healthy tissue, preventing the tumor from reproducing.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend the use of radiation therapy to remove tumor cells that may have remained in the mouth or to treat very small ameloblastomas that do not require surgery.
In the most severe cases, where a large amount of bone needs to be removed, the dentist may perform a jaw reconstruction to maintain the aesthetics and functionality of facial bones, using pieces of bone extracted from another part of the body.