Signs and Symptoms
- Focal radiodensity of the jaw, not inflammatory, dysplastic, neoplastic, or a manifestation of a systemic disease
- Common condition, affecting 5% of the population, typically seen in teens and those in their 20s
- Usually asymptomatic and found incidentally on a radiograph
- Can be found anywhere in the jaw, most commonly in the mandibular premolar-molar region
- Shape ranges from round to linear streaks to occasional angular forms
Cause
- Mostly unknown (idiopathic)
- May be a reaction to past trauma or infection, difficult to rule out in some cases
Diagnosis
- Usual diagnosis is via radiograph and patient history
- Biopsy is rarely needed
- Periodic follow-ups should include additional radiographs to monitor minimal growth or regression
Radiology
- Well-defined, rounded or triangular radiodensity, uniformly opaque
- No lucent component
- Found near the root apex or in the inter-radicular area
- Rare occurrence of root resorption and tooth movement
- Blends into bone cortices without expansion or thinning
Differential Diagnosis
- Condensing osteitis, sclerosing osteomyelitis, enostosis cementoblastoma, cemento-osseous dysplasia, hypercementosis, exostoses (tori)
- Condensing osteitis may resemble idiopathic osteosclerosis, but associated teeth will have pulpitis or pulpal necrosis
Treatment:
- No treatment is necessary
Idiopathic osteosclerosis, also known as enostosis or dense bone island, is a condition which may be found around the roots of a tooth, usually a premolar or molar. It is usually painless and found during routine radiographs as an amorphous radiopaque (light) area around a tooth. There is no sign of inflammation of the tooth, and if the island is associated with the root the periodontal ligament space is preserved.
| Idiopathic osteosclerosis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Top: A hyperdense round lesion located under the apex of a non-infected tooth. Bottom: The lesion is separated from the root of the adjacent tooth by a visible periodontal membrane. | |
| Specialty | Dentistry |
