Hypercementosis
Pronunciation: HY-per-see-men-TOH-sis
An abnormal thickening of the cementum covering the root surface of a tooth, visible radiographically as a bulbous root enlargement, associated with Paget's disease, periapical inflammation, or sometimes occurring idiopathically.
Full Definition
Hypercementosis is characterised by the excessive deposition of secondary cementum on one or more tooth roots, resulting in a club-shaped or bulbous root apex visible on periapical or panoramic radiographs. It may be localised (associated with periapical pathology or occlusal stress) or generalised (as seen in Paget's disease of bone, acromegaly, and hyperthyroidism). In oral medicine reports and radiology submissions, editors should note that hypercementosis is a radiographic descriptor applied to vital teeth, and should not be confused with cemento-ossifying fibroma or cementoblastoma, which are tumour entities. The preferred British English spelling is 'hypercementosis' (not 'hypercemeentosis').
Usage
Usage note: This is a radiographic diagnosis and should be described as such in text. Editors should ensure it is not attributed to histopathological findings unless a biopsy has also been reported.
In Context
- "The panoramic radiograph demonstrated generalised hypercementosis, prompting further investigation for Paget's disease of bone." — Radiology report
- "Hypercementosis was identified incidentally on a periapical radiograph of the mandibular first molar." — Dental radiography case note