Cementomas are dental tumors that can cause malformation of the teeth or jaw. There are four types, including gigantiform, cementing fibroma, benign, and periapical. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for favorable outcomes.
A cementoma is a type of dental tumor of the cementum, or the calcified root area of the teeth. These tumors are usually painless until the later stages of growth and typically appear before the mid-20s after the tooth roots have fully grown. An untreated or large cementoma can lead to significant malformation of the teeth or jaw. There are four types of cementoma, including gigantiform, cementing fibroma, benign, and periapical.
Giant cementomas are extremely rare, but they are not cancerous. As the name suggests, they can grow to a significant size, leading to severe jaw malformations and pain. Surgery is always required for these tumors, and because they have no known cause, treatment is complex and often has limited success. Wheezing typically affects young adolescents and appears to be more common in African American women, although there is no known reason for that correlation.
Cementing fibroma is a rapidly developing tumor of the fibroblastic tissue of the mouth. It causes calcified deposits to settle around the roots of the teeth. These cancers often affect middle-aged men and women and can lead to irreversible damage to the teeth and jaw. Early identification of these tumors is essential to limit damage to the mouth.
Often found in younger patients, benign cementoma usually grows around the primary molar and affects the mandibular area of the mouth. As the name suggests, these tumors aren’t cancerous, but they can grow and cause tooth sprains or pain. This tumor affects the growth portion of the cementum, which is why it is more common in young people whose roots are not fully developed.
Periapical cementomas are the most common types of cementomas. They are much more likely to occur in women and are usually found around the lower front teeth. These tumors are also the least serious, as they don’t tend to grow and usually don’t require surgery unless they press on a nerve and cause dental pain. A periapical tumor is unlikely to cause damage to the maxilla or mandible.
Cements are usually discovered during routine dental x-rays, as pain from tumors typically doesn’t occur until significant growth has occurred. Even among trained dental professionals, they can be difficult to identify and diagnose correctly. X-ray results are often misleading and small tumors can be difficult to spot, particularly in the back areas of the mouth. Early diagnosis and treatment of these tumors typically lead to very favorable outcomes for patients.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
