Description: Cementoma occurs as a selflimiting lesion around the apices of vital teeth, chiefly in women in the middle years. The condition is more common in Blacks, and lower anterior teeth are the principal site. The lesion may be solitary or occur in multiples. The initial lesion is a periapical proliferation of benign fibrous connective tissue in the periodontal ligament. There are no symptoms and x-ray shows a periapical radiolucency ordinarily not exceeding a centimeter. Cementum is slowly formed in the central area and the entire lesion becomes converted to a mineralized mass which appears radiopaque on x-ray. Often a thin radiolucent halo persists around the circumference of the opaque lesion.
Etiology: Unknown
Treatment: There is no treatment required.
Prognosis: Good, the lesion is self-limiting.
Differential diagnosis: Differential diagnosis during the lytic stage includes periapical cysts, abscesses, and granulomas. The opaque stage must be distinguished from condensing osteitis and osteosclerosis. Pulp vitality tests of associated teeth are an absolute necessity to arrive at accurate diagnosis.