OSCE radiology Flashcards
key points for Concussion in Dental Trauma (Periodontal Tissue Injury):
Mnemonic: “CRUSH Check-Up”
C: Crush to blood flow – The tooth gets a light crush to its blood vessels.
R: Radiographs show little – X-rays don’t reveal much damage.
U: Unstable feelings – It feels tender when biting or touched.
S: Stable position – The tooth isn’t wobbly.
H: Healing plan – Gentle care is key:
Adjust how your teeth meet (occlusal adjustment).
Schedule regular X-rays (periodic P.A.s).
Test tooth health (vitality testing) throughout the year.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a “lightly bruised apple.” It might feel tender when squeezed, but it doesn’t look smashed, and with gentle care, it heals over time!
key points for Concussion in Dental Trauma (Periodontal Tissue Injury):
Mnemonic: “CRUSH Check-Up”
C: Crush to blood flow – The tooth gets a light crush to its blood vessels.
R: Radiographs show little – X-rays don’t reveal much damage.
U: Unstable feelings – It feels tender when biting or touched.
S: Stable position – The tooth isn’t wobbly.
H: Healing plan – Gentle care is key:
Adjust how your teeth meet (occlusal adjustment).
Schedule regular X-rays (periodic P.A.s).
Test tooth health (vitality testing) throughout the year.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a “lightly bruised apple.” It might feel tender when squeezed, but it doesn’t look smashed, and with gentle care, it heals over time!
Mnemonic: “LUX Moves and Bleeds”
L: Lost place – The tooth is dislocated or moved from its usual position.
U: Up or Down? – It can be pushed up into the gum (intrusive) or down/partway out (extrusive).
X: eXit sideways – It can also be pushed sideways (lateral luxation).
M: Mobility surprise – Sometimes, it’s just wobbly (subluxation) without leaving the socket.
B: Bleeding gums – The gums may bleed from the injury.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a tree uprooted in a storm:
Sometimes it’s tilted up, pulled down, or pushed sideways.
Other times, it just wobbles in place.
The surrounding soil (gums) shows signs of disturbance (bleeding).
This simplifies luxation injuries into easily memorable categories and their common signs!
Manage
lay terms for the management and diagnosis of luxation injuries:
Mnemonic: “RAPID Fix and Follow”
R: Radiographs needed – X-rays may be needed to confirm the injury.
A: Align immediately – The tooth should be repositioned right away.
P: Protect with a splint – A flexible splint is used to keep the tooth stable.
I: Inspect regularly – Periodic check-ups are essential to monitor healing.
D: Dental follow-up – Ensure long-term care and monitoring.
Visual Analogy:
Think of fixing a crooked fence post:
You take a picture to understand the damage (radiographs).
Push it back into place immediately (repositioning).
Secure it with a flexible tie (splint).
Check it regularly to ensure it’s holding up (monitoring).
lay terms for the management and diagnosis of luxation injuries:
Mnemonic: “RAPID Fix and Follow”
R: Radiographs needed – X-rays may be needed to confirm the injury.
A: Align immediately – The tooth should be repositioned right away.
P: Protect with a splint – A flexible splint is used to keep the tooth stable.
I: Inspect regularly – Periodic check-ups are essential to monitor healing.
D: Dental follow-up – Ensure long-term care and monitoring.
Visual Analogy:
Think of fixing a crooked fence post:
You take a picture to understand the damage (radiographs).
Push it back into place immediately (repositioning).
Secure it with a flexible tie (splint).
Check it regularly to ensure it’s holding up (monitoring).
lay terms for the management and diagnosis of luxation injuries:
Mnemonic: “RAPID Fix and Follow”
R: Radiographs needed – X-rays may be needed to confirm the injury.
A: Align immediately – The tooth should be repositioned right away.
P: Protect with a splint – A flexible splint is used to keep the tooth stable.
I: Inspect regularly – Periodic check-ups are essential to monitor healing.
D: Dental follow-up – Ensure long-term care and monitoring.
Visual Analogy:
Think of fixing a crooked fence post:
You take a picture to understand the damage (radiographs).
Push it back into place immediately (repositioning).
Secure it with a flexible tie (splint).
Check it regularly to ensure it’s holding up (monitoring).
Mnemonic: “LOST Tooth, Quick Save”
L: Look for the tooth – Avulsions make up 15% of injuries, so finding the tooth is key.
O: Observe X-rays – If the tooth is missing:
Take soft tissue X-rays to check if it’s lodged in the gums.
Refer for chest/abdominal imaging to rule out swallowing or inhalation.
S: Save the socket – The healing socket forms dense bone over time.
T: Try reimplantation – If the tooth is found, reimplant immediately, but:
Deciduous (baby teeth) should not be reimplanted because of the risk to permanent teeth.
Quick Save:
Endodontic therapy (root canal) will likely be needed for the avulsed tooth.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a dropped key:
You immediately look for it.
If you can’t find it, you check unusual places (soft tissue or even inside the house—X-rays).
Once found, you try to put it back in the lock (tooth reimplantation) carefully, but sometimes replacing the key (deciduous teeth) can cause issues with the new lock (permanent teeth).
Fractures of teeth
crown fracture
Mnemonic: “CRACK Fix Steps”
C: Common in kids and adults – Crown fractures make up:
25% of injuries to permanent teeth.
40% of injuries to baby (deciduous) teeth.
R: Rank the damage – Classify the fracture:
Crack (Enamel infraction) – Just a small crack.
Uncomplicated fracture – Involves enamel or enamel + dentine.
Complicated fracture – Involves the pulp.
A: Assess the pulp – For complicated fractures, treat the pulp based on root development.
C: Check vitality – Always test the tooth’s nerve health.
K: Keep options open – Management differs:
Uncomplicated: Delay permanent restorative treatment to let things settle.
Complicated: For baby teeth, consider extraction if saving them isn’t viable.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a cracked phone screen:
Some cracks are just surface scratches (enamel infractions).
Bigger cracks might need temporary fixes before full repair (uncomplicated fractures).
Deep cracks that reach the circuits (pulp) need specialized repair—or sometimes, replacing the phone (tooth extraction for deciduous teeth).
root fracture
Mnemonic: “ROOTS Break Midway”
R: Rank the fracture – Fractures can be:
Horizontal – Across the tooth.
Vertical – Up and down.
O: Observe movement – The mobility of the tooth depends on where the fracture is located.
O: Occurs most in the middle – Most root fractures happen in the middle third of the root.
T: Take more X-rays – One X-ray may not show the fracture; different angles are needed.
S: Spot the PDL – Look for a widened periodontal ligament (PDL) space, which may be the only sign of a fracture.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a tree branch snapping:
A horizontal break is like a branch splitting across.
A vertical break is like a crack running along the length of the branch.
If the branch wiggles a lot, the break is near the base. If it barely moves, it’s further away. Sometimes, only small signs (like widened gaps) reveal the break at first glance.
root fracture
Mnemonic: “ROOTS Break Midway”
R: Rank the fracture – Fractures can be:
Horizontal – Across the tooth.
Vertical – Up and down.
O: Observe movement – The mobility of the tooth depends on where the fracture is located.
O: Occurs most in the middle – Most root fractures happen in the middle third of the root.
T: Take more X-rays – One X-ray may not show the fracture; different angles are needed.
S: Spot the PDL – Look for a widened periodontal ligament (PDL) space, which may be the only sign of a fracture.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a tree branch snapping:
A horizontal break is like a branch splitting across.
A vertical break is like a crack running along the length of the branch.
If the branch wiggles a lot, the break is near the base. If it barely moves, it’s further away. Sometimes, only small signs (like widened gaps) reveal the break at first glance.
Mnemonic: “ROOTS Break Midway”
R: Rank the fracture – Fractures can be:
Horizontal – Across the tooth.
Vertical – Up and down.
O: Observe movement – The mobility of the tooth depends on where the fracture is located.
O: Occurs most in the middle – Most root fractures happen in the middle third of the root.
T: Take more X-rays – One X-ray may not show the fracture; different angles are needed.
S: Spot the PDL – Look for a widened periodontal ligament (PDL) space, which may be the only sign of a fracture.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a tree branch snapping:
A horizontal break is like a branch splitting across.
A vertical break is like a crack running along the length of the branch.
If the branch wiggles a lot, the break is near the base. If it barely moves, it’s further away. Sometimes, only small signs (like widened gaps) reveal the break at first glance.
Mnemonic: “ROOTS Break Midway”
R: Rank the fracture – Fractures can be:
Horizontal – Across the tooth.
Vertical – Up and down.
O: Observe movement – The mobility of the tooth depends on where the fracture is located.
O: Occurs most in the middle – Most root fractures happen in the middle third of the root.
T: Take more X-rays – One X-ray may not show the fracture; different angles are needed.
S: Spot the PDL – Look for a widened periodontal ligament (PDL) space, which may be the only sign of a fracture.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a tree branch snapping:
A horizontal break is like a branch splitting across.
A vertical break is like a crack running along the length of the branch.
If the branch wiggles a lot, the break is near the base. If it barely moves, it’s further away. Sometimes, only small signs (like widened gaps) reveal the break at first glance.
root fracture
Mnemonic: “ROOTS Break Midway”
R: Rank the fracture – Fractures can be:
Horizontal – Across the tooth.
Vertical – Up and down.
O: Observe movement – The mobility of the tooth depends on where the fracture is located.
O: Occurs most in the middle – Most root fractures happen in the middle third of the root.
T: Take more X-rays – One X-ray may not show the fracture; different angles are needed.
S: Spot the PDL – Look for a widened periodontal ligament (PDL) space, which may be the only sign of a fracture.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a tree branch snapping:
A horizontal break is like a branch splitting across.
A vertical break is like a crack running along the length of the branch.
If the branch wiggles a lot, the break is near the base. If it barely moves, it’s further away. Sometimes, only small signs (like widened gaps) reveal the break at first glance.
manage this
Here’s a mnemonic in lay terms for Root Fracture Management:
Mnemonic: “FIX, SAVE, or SHARE”
F: Fix it fast – Perform manual reduction to realign the tooth and use immobilization (like a splint) to keep it stable.
I: Ideal outcome – Fractures in the apical third (near the root tip) often have a good prognosis.
X: eXpect root canal – If the tooth loses vitality, endodontic therapy (root canal) is needed to save it.
S: Split the root – For multi-rooted teeth, hemisection (removing one root) may be an option to preserve part of the tooth.
H: Healing depends – Success relies on proper alignment and monitoring.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a broken leg:
If the break is clean and near the foot (apical third), recovery is easier.
A cast (immobilization) stabilizes it while healing.
If the bone’s “lifeline” is cut off (vitality lost), further treatment (like a root canal) is needed.
For a multi-part break (multi-rooted teeth), sometimes only one part can be saved (hemisection).
Here’s a mnemonic in lay terms for Crown-Root Fractures:
Mnemonic: “CROWN Meets ROOT”
C: Complicated up front – Most anterior (front) teeth with crown-root fractures are complicated, often involving the pulp.
R: Restorative hope – Posterior (back) teeth with uncomplicated fractures can often be restored with a crown lengthening procedure (CCL).
O: Outcome is tough – Prognosis for crown-root fractures is often poor, especially for complicated cases.
W: Wider views needed – Just like root fractures, X-rays often miss the full extent of the fracture in one shot.
N: Needs careful planning – Proper imaging and diagnosis are crucial to decide the best treatment approach.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a cracked tree trunk:
If the crack reaches both the crown and the root, it’s harder to save the tree (poor prognosis).
For smaller cracks near the base (posterior teeth), careful trimming and bracing (restoration with CCL) can help.
Dental Trauma
Traumatic Injuries to the Facial Bones
Alveolar process injury
ere’s a mnemonic in lay terms for Alveolar Process Injury:
Mnemonic: “ALVEOLAR Alignment Fix”
A: Associated with luxation – Often occurs alongside tooth displacement (luxation injuries).
L: Location in the front – More common in the anterior maxilla (upper front jaw).
V: Visible misalignment – Always shows malocclusion (teeth don’t align properly).
E: Extra imaging needed – Multiple X-rays at different angles are required to see the full extent of the injury.
O: Orthodontic-like splinting – Managed with intermaxillary splinting (stabilizes the jaw like braces hold teeth).
L: Light pressure realignment – Reduction is done using digital pressure to gently push the bone back.
A: Assess the pulp – If necessary, perform endodontic therapy to save the affected teeth.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a bent fence panel:
It’s often bent out of alignment when parts of the structure (teeth) are displaced.
You need to view it from different angles (imaging) to assess the damage.
Fix it by gently pressing it back (reduction) and securing it in place (splinting), but some parts (pulp) may still need repair.
Dental Trauma
Traumatic Injuries to the Facial Bones
Alveolar process injury
Here’s a mnemonic in lay terms for Alveolar Process Injury:
Mnemonic: “ALVEOLAR Alignment Fix”
A: Associated with luxation – Often occurs alongside tooth displacement (luxation injuries).
L: Location in the front – More common in the anterior maxilla (upper front jaw).
V: Visible misalignment – Always shows malocclusion (teeth don’t align properly).
E: Extra imaging needed – Multiple X-rays at different angles are required to see the full extent of the injury.
O: Orthodontic-like splinting – Managed with intermaxillary splinting (stabilizes the jaw like braces hold teeth).
L: Light pressure realignment – Reduction is done using digital pressure to gently push the bone back.
A: Assess the pulp – If necessary, perform endodontic therapy to save the affected teeth.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a bent fence panel:
It’s often bent out of alignment when parts of the structure (teeth) are displaced.
You need to view it from different angles (imaging) to assess the damage.
Fix it by gently pressing it back (reduction) and securing it in place (splinting), but some parts (pulp) may still need repair.
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Attrition
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Attrition
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Attrition
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Attrition
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Abbrasion
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Abbrasion
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Abbrasion from flossing
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Erosion
BOH2
Diagnostic Imaging of Trauma and Acquired Dental Anomalies
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Erosion
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Secondary Dentine Analysys
Secondary dentine forms naturally inside a tooth over time as a protective layer, often as a response to aging or irritation.
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Secondary Dentine Analysys
Secondary dentine forms naturally inside a tooth over time as a protective layer, often as a response to aging or irritation.
Internal vs External Resorption:
Mnemonic: “PINK INSIDE, GONE OUTSIDE”
P: Pulp problem (Internal) – Happens inside the pulp chamber or root canal.
I: Inflammation leads to damage (Internal) – Caused by inflamed pulp reactivating dentin-eating cells (dentinoclasts), triggered by trauma, pulp capping, or pulpotomy.
N: Noticed as ‘Pink Tooth’ (Internal) – Often seen in front teeth and molars of both baby and adult teeth.
K: Keep an eye on it – It may stop on its own or continue to progress (self-limiting or progressive).
I: Impact on outer layers (External) – Happens on the outside of the tooth, usually affecting the roots but sometimes crowns (e.g., impacted teeth).
G: Growth-related issues (External) – Linked to inflammatory lesions, reimplanted teeth, tumors, cysts, or excessive forces.
O: Outer teeth most affected (External) – More common in mandibular (lower) teeth than upper.
N: No early symptoms (External) – It’s often silent until advanced stages.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a house:
Internal resorption is like damage inside the walls (pulp chamber), sometimes causing a visible pink spot (Pink Tooth).
External resorption is like erosion on the outside of the walls (roots or crowns), often unnoticed until severe damage appears.
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Internal Resorption
Mnemonic: “INSIDE VIEW”
I: Imaging is key – Use periapical X-rays with tube shifts for the best results.
N: Notice the shape – Look for a round, oval, or elongated dark spot (radiolucency) in the crown or root.
S: Smooth edges – The outline is usually well-defined, either smooth or scalloped.
I: Irregular pulp size – The pulp chamber or root canal space may appear widened unevenly.
D: Detect early – These signs help spot internal resorption before it worsens.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a bubble forming inside a pipe:
The bubble (radiolucency) is smooth or scalloped, with the pipe (pulp chamber or root canal) becoming unevenly wider.
Acquired Dental Anomalies
Internal Resorption
Mnemonic: “INSIDE VIEW”
I: Imaging is key – Use periapical X-rays with tube shifts for the best results.
N: Notice the shape – Look for a round, oval, or elongated dark spot (radiolucency) in the crown or root.
S: Smooth edges – The outline is usually well-defined, either smooth or scalloped.
I: Irregular pulp size – The pulp chamber or root canal space may appear widened unevenly.
D: Detect early – These signs help spot internal resorption before it worsens.
Visual Analogy:
Think of a bubble forming inside a pipe:
The bubble (radiolucency) is smooth or scalloped, with the pipe (pulp chamber or root canal) becoming unevenly wider.
Mnemonic: “OUTSIDE PRESSURE”
O: Optimal imaging – Periapical X-rays with tube shifts are best to see external resorption.
U: Under stress – Often affects the apex (tip) and cervical areas of the tooth.
T: Tapered apex – Look for a blunted tooth tip with an intact lamina dura and PDL.
S: Side effects – Resorption on the side of the root can occur due to pressure from adjacent unerupted teeth.
I: Intact structures – Surrounding tissues (lamina dura and PDL) usually remain intact despite the resorption.
D: Detect with care – Subtle changes require detailed imaging to diagnose properly.
Visual Analogy:
Think of wear on a pencil tip:
The point (apex) becomes blunted, but the surrounding wood (lamina dura and PDL) remains intact. Pressure from another pencil (unerupted tooth) can cause side damage.
ER
Mnemonic: “OUTSIDE PRESSURE”
O: Optimal imaging – Periapical X-rays with tube shifts are best to see external resorption.
U: Under stress – Often affects the apex (tip) and cervical areas of the tooth.
T: Tapered apex – Look for a blunted tooth tip with an intact lamina dura and PDL.
S: Side effects – Resorption on the side of the root can occur due to pressure from adjacent unerupted teeth.
I: Intact structures – Surrounding tissues (lamina dura and PDL) usually remain intact despite the resorption.
D: Detect with care – Subtle changes require detailed imaging to diagnose properly.
Visual Analogy:
Think of wear on a pencil tip:
The point (apex) becomes blunted, but the surrounding wood (lamina dura and PDL) remains intact. Pressure from another pencil (unerupted tooth) can cause side damage.
Trauma + Aquired Anomalies
Trauma: “People Love Avoiding Fractures Always”
P: Periodontal Tissue Injury
C: Concussion
L: Luxation
A: Avulsion
F: Fractures of the Teeth
C: Crown Fractures
R: Root Fractures
C-R: Crown-Root Fractures
A: Alveolar Process Injury
Acquired Anomalies: “A Early Accident Shatters Roots”
A: Attrition
E: Erosion
A: Abrasion
S: Secondary Dentin
R: Resorption
material
26,36pin-retained (arrows)silveramalgam restorations
36 material
pfm crown (proc infused metal)
M: Metal – Brightest and whitest (most radiopaque).
P: PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) – Very radiopaque but less bright than pure metal due to the porcelain layer.
Z: Zirconia (Monolithic) – Bright but less intense than metal or PFM.
C: CEREC Ceramic – Lighter gray due to lower density.
E: e.max (Lithium Disilicate) – Darkest and most radiolucent (allows more X-rays through).
materials
.1.36
2.17
M: Metal – Brightest and whitest (most radiopaque).
P: PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) – Very radiopaque but less bright than pure metal due to the porcelain layer.
Z: Zirconia (Monolithic) – Bright but less intense than metal or PFM.
C: CEREC Ceramic – Lighter gray due to lower density.
E: e.max (Lithium Disilicate) – Darkest and most radiolucent (allows more X-rays through).
material
Monolithic zirconia crowns on 11,21
M: Metal – Brightest and whitest (most radiopaque).
P: PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) – Very radiopaque but less bright than pure metal due to the porcelain layer.
Z: Zirconia (Monolithic) – Bright but less intense than metal or PFM.
C: CEREC Ceramic – Lighter gray due to lower density.
E: e.max (Lithium Disilicate) – Darkest and most radiolucent (allows more X-rays through).
materials on a) 46, 47
b) 24
M: Metal – Brightest and whitest (most radiopaque).
P: PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) – Very radiopaque but less bright than pure metal due to the porcelain layer.
Z: Zirconia (Monolithic) – Bright but less intense than metal or PFM.
C: CEREC Ceramic – Lighter gray due to lower density.
E: e.max (Lithium Disilicate) – Darkest and most radiolucent (allows more X-rays through).
materia
a) all
b)35
c)46
material
Multiple restored teeth with both amalgam and composites
material
GIC restoration on 75
material
45 (46?) temporary zinc oxide cement restoration
material
Radiolucent restorations
material
Acrylic and porcelain crowns
material on 37
Stainless steel band 37 (possible cracked tooth)
*
material
Stainless steel band 34,35,37 ortho treatment
Dentistrytoday.com
Stainless steel band 37 (possible cracked tooth)
Porcelain Fused to Metal Fixed Partial Denture.
Root canal filling
a)Silver points
b)Gutta-percha
Posts and core restorations
a)Glass fiber post b)Zirconium posts
material
45 Post and core restoration
Lingual arch wire
Metal cast partial denture in the maxilla
Acrylic partial denture with metal clasps in the mandible
Acrylic denture with metal clasps
Dentures
Bone plate with surgical screws
Eyeglasses
Hearing aid
Supernumerary teeth
Supernumerary teeth
Supernumerary teeth
mesiodens interfering with eruption of adj permanent teeth
mesiodens interfering with eruption of adj permanent teeth
mesiodens interfering with eruption of adj permanent teeth
Mnemonic: “HIDDEN TEETH, MISSING SMILES”
H: Hard to spot – Teeth may look different or be entirely absent on X-rays or clinically.
I: Invisible equals missing – A tooth is considered missing if it’s not visible in the mouth or on X-rays, and there’s no record of extraction.
D: Differentials matter – Conditions like anodontia (no teeth) or oligodontia (missing many teeth) could point to syndromes.
D: Defects linked to syndromes – Often seen with ectodermal dysplasia (affecting hair, skin, nails, and teeth) or focal dermal hypoplasia (skin and dental issues).
Lay Summary:
Hypodontia means some teeth didn’t develop. If teeth are missing on X-rays and haven’t been pulled, they’re considered absent. Missing many or all teeth (oligodontia or anodontia) could hint at genetic syndromes like ectodermal dysplasia, which affect teeth and other parts of the body.
Ectodermal dysplasia
Microdontia
Microdontia
Gemination
Gemination
TAURODONTISM
Concrescence
Dilaceration
Dilaceration
Dens invaginatus
Dens invaginatus
Dens Evaginatus
Syn: Leong’s premolar
Talon cusp
Enamel pearls
Turner’s hypoplasia
Mnemonic: “TURNER’S PIT”
T: Trauma or infection – Caused by damage from the baby tooth (deciduous predecessor) to the permanent tooth.
U: Usually premolars – Most commonly affects mandibular premolars.
R: Radiographs reveal defects – Best seen on periapical X-rays, showing ill-defined radiolucencies and altered crown contours.
N: Notice staining or pitting – Visible discoloration or pits on the tooth’s surface.
E: Easily mistaken – Small defects can mimic caries, or other conditions like environmental enamel hypoplasia or amelogenesis imperfecta.
R: Radiolucency clues – Crown appears darker (radiolucent) due to poor mineralization.
Lay Summary:
Turner’s hypoplasia is a defect in the crown of a permanent tooth, usually caused by trauma or infection from the baby tooth. It’s often seen as discoloration, pits, or irregular crown shape, particularly on lower premolars. X-rays show poorly defined dark areas, and it can look like decay or other enamel defects.
AI types + ft
AI
Dental Anomalies-Altered Morphology
Dentinogenesis imperfecta
Dental Anomalies-Altered Morphology
Dentinogenesis imperfecta
ai
di
Hypercementosis
Mnemonic: “HYPER ROOT BUILDER”
H: Heavy cementum – Excess cementum is deposited on the roots of the tooth.
Y: Your tooth overworks – Caused by inflammation, over-eruption, or conditions like Paget’s disease (generalized form).
P: Periapical X-rays best – Radiographs show a smooth, radiopaque outline around the root.
E: Encased by normal structures – The lamina dura and PDL space remain intact, surrounding the root.
R: Root mimicry – Can resemble:
Dilacerated root (curved root),
Condensing osteitis (infection reaction),
Dense bone island, or
Periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia.
Lay Summary:
Hypercementosis is when the tooth’s root gets an extra thick layer of cementum. It often happens due to irritation, overuse, or diseases like Paget’s. X-rays show a bright, smooth layer around the root, but the surrounding structures (PDL and lamina dura) look normal. It can look similar to other conditions that affect roots and nearby bone.
