Elevated expression of survivin is strongly associated with tumorigenesis and even in human common cancers. The purpose of this study is to confirm whether survivin is associated with odontogenic tumor expecially in the development and growth in ameloblastomas. For the control group; 3 specimens obtained from normal oral mucosa without any inflammatory reaction were used. For the experimental group, specimens obtained from 17 subjects of ameloblastomas; follicular type, plexiform type, granular cell type, acantomatous type and unicystic ameloblastoma. All the specimens were embedded in paraffin, sectioned 5μm or more in thickness, and stained with hematoxylin- eosin stain method. For immunostain, the specimens were incubated with 1:200 diluted primary antibody, followed by the secondary antibody. The bound antibodies were visualized by addition of diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) for 30 minutes at room temperature. The specimens were counterstained with Gill’s Hematoxylin and mounted. Intensity of survivin immunoreactivity specimens was quantitatively scaled using under the light microscope with the following criteria; Intensive reaction; +++, Moderate reaction; ++, Minimal reaction; +. Using the image analyzer (Korea Optical System), immunoreactivity of the tumor cells in various fields was measured and statistically analyzed with SPSS 17.0 Program. In control group, moderate positive reaction was noted in the cytoplasm of cells in the basal and spinous layer, but negative reaction was revealed in the nucleus. Expression of survivin was significantly increased in the cytoplasm of ameloblastomas as compared to that of control group (p<0.05). Expression of survivin in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the tumor cells between subtype of ameloblastoma was not significantly different. These results suggest that expression of survivin is closely associated with the development, and growth of the ameloblastomas. However it is unlikely that survivin can be used as a marker for cellular malignancy.