The peripheral odontogenic fibroma has been defined in the WHO classification as a peripheral odontogenic tumor representing the extraosseous counterpart of the central odontogenic fibroma. The lesion is an uncommon, benign, unencapsulated, and
exophytic gingival mass of fibrous connective tissue.
The peripheral odontogenic fibroma can occur at and age, but is most common in children and young adults. The sites for occurrence are equally divided between the maxilla and mandible, but most occur anterior to the molar region. Clinically
almost
all
the lesion appear as painless, sessile, firm elevated masses on the gingiva, especially interdental papilla.
Histologically, odontogenic epithelium may be found within the gingival mass, but appears to play a minor or inactive role when compared with the fibrous component. The peripheral odontogenic fibroma contains islands and/or strands of odontogenic
epithelium ranging form scanty to numerous Mineralized material or matrix can be found throughout the lesion.
Treatment for the peripheral odontogenic fibroma is surgical excision.
The purpose of this article is to report three cases of peripheral odontogenic fibroma, to evaluate the cases reported in the literature, and to analyze the relationship between peripheral odontogenic fibroma and peripheral ossifying fibroma
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