Cementoblastoma

Cementoblastoma, or benign cementoblastoma, is a relatively uncommon benign neoplasm of the cementum of the teeth.

Clinical features

Cementoblastoma usually occurs in people under the age of 25, often involving the mandibular molars or premolars. The involved tooth usually has a vital pulp. It is attached to the tooth root and may cause its resorption, may involve the pulp canal, grows slowly, tends to expand the overlying cortical plates, and, except for the enlargement produced, is usually asymptomatic.

Cementoblastoma is benign neoplasm and forms a mass of cementum-like tissue as an irregular or round mass attached to the roots of a tooth, usually first mandibular molar.

Radiographic features

A cementoblastoma in a radiograph appears as a well-defined, markedly radiopaque mass, with a radiolucent peripheral "line", which overlies and obliterates the tooth root. There is usually apparent external resorption of the root where the tumor and the root join. Severe hypercementosis and chronic focal sclerosing osteomyelitis are lesions to consider in the diagnosis.

Treatment

Surgical excision of the lesion is done, and depending upon the clinical circumstances, this may or may not involve removal of the involved tooth.