Hypercementosis

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Hypercementosis
Synonyms	Cementum hyperplasia
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Often asymptomatic, may cause tooth pain if associated with other conditions
Complications	May complicate tooth extraction
Onset	Usually detected in adults
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Unknown, but associated with Paget's disease of bone, acromegaly, and hyperpituitarism
Risks	Bruxism, trauma, inflammation
Diagnosis	Dental radiography
Differential diagnosis	Cementoblastoma, periapical cemental dysplasia
Prevention	None specific
Treatment	Generally not required unless symptomatic
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Good, as it is usually benign
Frequency	Relatively uncommon
Deaths	N/A

An overview of hypercementosis, a dental condition

Hypercementosis is a dental condition characterized by the excessive formation of cementum on the roots of one or more teeth. Cementum is a calcified tissue that covers the roots of teeth and helps anchor them to the alveolar bone via the periodontal ligament.

Etiology

The exact cause of hypercementosis is not well understood, but it is believed to be associated with several factors, including:

• Inflammation or trauma to the tooth
• Paget's disease of bone
• Acromegaly
• Arthritis
• Thyroid disorders
• Idiopathic causes

Clinical Features

Hypercementosis is often asymptomatic and is usually discovered incidentally on dental radiographs. In some cases, it may cause difficulty during tooth extraction due to the increased bulk of the root.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hypercementosis is primarily made through radiographic examination. On an X-ray, affected teeth show an increased radiopacity at the root apex, indicating the presence of excess cementum.

Treatment

In most cases, hypercementosis does not require treatment unless it is associated with other dental issues or complicates dental procedures. If extraction is necessary, surgical intervention may be required to manage the enlarged root structure.

See Also

• Cementum
• Periodontal ligament
• Tooth anatomy
• Dental radiography