Hypercementosis
Pronunciation: hy-per-seh-men-TOH-sis
An abnormal thickening of the cementum on one or more tooth roots, which can complicate extraction by anchoring the root within the alveolar bone.
Full Definition
Hypercementosis is a non-neoplastic condition characterised by excessive deposition of cementum on the root surface, often associated with Paget's disease of bone, chronic periapical inflammation, or idiopathic causes. In oral surgery editorial contexts, it is clinically important because it increases extraction difficulty and the risk of root fracture or jaw fracture. Radiographic reports should describe the distribution (apical, mid-root, generalised) and degree of cementum thickening. The term is one unhyphenated word. Editors should verify it is not misspelled as 'hypercementosis' vs 'hypercementosis' — no variant hyphenated spelling is accepted in current literature.
Usage
Usage note: Always one word, no hyphen. Distinguish from 'ankylosis', which involves fusion of cementum to bone rather than cementum excess alone.
In Context
- "Pre-operative radiographs revealed hypercementosis of the lower left second molar, prompting a surgical extraction approach." — Radiology report
- "The pathology report noted generalised hypercementosis consistent with the patient's known diagnosis of Paget's disease." — Histopathology report