Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have different effects on bones, cartilage and joints, sometimes destroying the spine and joints, and other times causing new bone formation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of RA and AS on the types (radiolucent, radiopaque and mixed) of periapical lesions in jaw bones.
This study included 708 individuals (97 with AS, 327 with RA and 284 healthy controls (C)) and a total of 17,118 teeth (AS: 2,442; RA: 7,638; C: 7,038). The number of teeth, extracted teeth and teeth with root canal treatment and the presence of radiopaque, radiolucent and mixed periapical lesions were recorded from dental panoramic radiographs. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.
The frequency of radiopaque lesions in the AS and RA groups was similar (p > 0.05) and significantly higher than in the C group (p < 0.05) (AS: 13.4%; RA: 6.1%; C: 2%). Mixed lesions (AS: 3.1%; RA: 4.0%; C: 0.4%) were statistically significantly higher for the RA group compared to the C group (p < 0.05), while the AS-C and AS-RA groups were similar (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of radiolucent lesions among groups (p > 0.05).
Radiopaque apical lesions were frequent in RA and AS patients, while mixed lesions were significantly higher in RA patients.

Sclerotic lesions of the jaw are uncommon but may be clinically relevant. In this pictorial review, the most common sclerotic lesions are discussed. Three categories of lesions are distinguished; odontogenic sclerotic lesions, non-odontogenic sclerotic lesions, and mixed lytic-sclerotic lesions. In each group, non-neoplastic conditions are discussed first, followed by benign and malignant neoplasms. For each disease a brief overview is given, including histological features, epidemiology, symptoms, typical location, imaging features, and treatment. This review emphasizes which basic observations are essential to the evaluation of sclerotic jaw lesions and what elements have to be taken into account to create a proper differential diagnosis.

Foreign bodies may be a cause of concern in dental implant failure.
The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence and to evaluate the types of radiopacities in dental extraction sites using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
The incidence, location, and types of radiopacities were evaluated in 180 CBCT scans.
Different radiopaque structures could be noted in 84 scans. Foreign bodies and remaining roots were frequently seen. Most of the radiopacities were attributed to remaining endodontic filling in upper and lower jaws in 25 scans in different locations. Remaining roots could be detected in 20 scans. Focal and diffuse radiopaque bony lesions were observed in 16 scans. Tissue response in the form of radiolucency could be seen more with endodontic foreign bodies. Tissue reactions to radiopaque filling remnants were seen in 6.11% of cases.
Foreign body remnants, mostly of endodontic fillings, were frequently seen in CBCT in upper and lower jaws. Evidence of tissue reactions to extraction remnants could be found. Endodontic filling remnants could be seen more in the upper jaw. Thorough examination of implant site for the presence of endodontic foreign body remnants should be stressed. Debridement of the extraction socket should be done carefully in endodontically treated teeth.

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) exhibits important differences in gender, anatomic distribution, radiographic findings, and histologic appearance compared to other types of ameloblastoma. Radiologically, DA is seen either as ill-defined mass containing osteolytic and sclerotic areas or as multifocal radiodense flecks within radiolucent background resembling a honeycomb. The radiographic differential diagnosis includes fibro-osseous lesions such as cemento-ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, calcifying odontogenic cyst, and chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis. Thus, DA should primarily be included in the differential diagnosis of a mixed radiopaque-radiolucent lesion with diffuse borders in the anterior premolar region of the jaws. This report adds to the literature of mixed radiolucent-radiopaque lesions which may not always be histopathologically diagnosed as a fibro-osseous lesion but could turn out to be a DA. This report also benefits the dental community by cautioning them to be aware of DA that can be associated with multiple unerupted teeth which is quite a rare finding.

Osteomas are benign bone tumors which arise from the cortex or medulla of craniofacial and jaw bones. They are usually asymptomatic or present as slow-growing painless masses. Larger lesions may present with aesthetic (facial asymmetry) and functional disturbances (jaw deviation, difficulty in breathing, pain, and sensory deficits). This paper highlights a case of solitary peripheral osteoma composed of a compact bony mass arising from the lower border of the mandible in an adult female patient. The lesion presented with discomfort during deglutition, which was attributed to impingement of muscles of the oral cavity floor, including the anterior belly of digastric muscle.

A 29-year-old male patient reported for replacement of missing teeth. The patient gave history of unerupted right lower posterior teeth and the orthopantomogram revealed transmigrated mandibular second molar to the inferior border of mandible just below the root apices of second premolar associated with enostosis distally toward the ramus of mandible with size of about 21 mm Χ 20 mm. This rare interosseous defect plays a vital role in deciding prosthetic treatment options for missing teeth and utmost care should be taken to preserve the health of the patient during such procedures.

Inflammatory injuries in the maxillary sinus may originate from root canal infections and lead to bone resorption or regeneration. This report describes the radiographic findings of 4 asymptomatic clinical cases of large reactional osteogenesis in the maxillary sinus (MS) associated with secondary root canal infection detected using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging. Apical periodontitis, a consequence of root canal infection, may lead to a periosteal reaction in the MS and osteogenesis seen as a radiopaque structure on imaging scans. The use of a map-reading strategy for the longitudinal and sequential slices of CBCT images may contribute to the definition of diagnoses and treatment plans. Root canal infections may lead to reactional osteogenesis in the MS. High-resolution CBCT images may reveal changes that go unnoticed when using conventional imaging. Findings may help define initial diagnoses and therapeutic plans, but only histopathology provides a definitive diagnosis. Surgical enucleation of the periapical lesion is recommended if nonsurgical root canal treatment fails to control apical periodontitis.

The \"Dense Bone Island\" (DBI) is a radiopaque lesion referred in leterature as idiopathic osteosclerosis, enostosis, focal osteosclerosis, periapical osteopetrosis, and bone scar. The DBI are accidentally found in routinary Xray of bone structures. In the maxillary bones, often localized in the mandible, especially in the molar region, with a reported incidence ranging from 2.3 to 9.7%. DBI does not seem to develop until the first phase of adolescence and it is usually found in adolescents and in young adults. In 40% of cases DBI seems to increase in size after a 10 year follow-up, because the DBI found in jaws and in long bones seem to increase proportionally to the bone growth. A case of a 26 years old patient and the surgical treatment is presented. This is the first reported case where complete X-ray Orthopantomography follow-up showed the evolution of the lesion since its onset.