The clinical and histologic features of 16 cases of peripheral ameloblastoma are reviewed. One additional case of this unusual tumour, in a 76-year-old edentulous woman, is also described. This lesion arose on the mucosa of the upper alveolar crest and extended to the mucobuccal fold. It was painless with a dark-red granular surface. The lesion was excised surgically and no evidence of recurrence was seen 8 months later.