What is it?

Jaw tumors and cysts, or odontogenic tumors and cysts, are quite rare lesions that occur in the jaw bone or either in the soft tissue of the mouth. These growths are usually benign, but can invade the tissue surrounding the bone. It may include:
-Ameloblastoma- common, slow growing, typically benign tumor. It usually grows on the side of the jaw that is closest to the molar teeth, and may invade close structures. Has a tendency to recur after treatment, a surgery lessens the risk.
- Central giant cell granuloma- a benign lesion, usually growing on the front side of the lower jaw. It grows rapidly, and can destroy the bone, causing pain. Also has the tendency to recur, and typically requires surgery.
- Dentigerous cyst- the most common cyst, growing from tissue surrounding the tooth. Typically, they appear around the wisdom tooth, not fully erupted, and then it opens up into the mouth.
- Odontogenic keratocyst- it is a benign and slow growing cyst, typically growing near the molars on the lower jaw. It can destroy tissue and it has a tumor-like tendency to grow back after treatment. It is more common in people with an inherited condition called nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.
- Odontogenic myxoma- a rare benign tumor that occurs typically in the lower jaw, can be very aggressive to the bone and tissue surrounding it. Tend to recur after treatment.
- Odontoma is the most common odontogenic tumor, it is benign and has symptoms. It grows around the tooth and may interfere with its development.
Cysts may also develop from nonodontogenic origin, historically termed "fissural" as they were thought to arise from entrapped epithelium during embryogenesis.