Occurrence of hypercementosis in a German population.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence of hypercementosis in a selected German dental school patient population.

Methods: A total of 800 full-mouth periapical radiographic series were screened. The radiographs were evaluated under optimal conditions by using double magnifying glasses. A total of 18,589 teeth including third molars were evaluated. The relative incidence of hypercementosis and the correlation regarding the location (left-side versus right-side occurrence, maxillary versus mandibular, and anterior versus posterior teeth) and between men and women were recorded and analyzed by using the χ(2) test.

Results: Eleven patients were found to have hypercementosis, 10 women and 1 man (P < .05). Of these, 5 of 11 (45.46%) had only 1 tooth with hypercementosis, and 6 had more than 1 (54.54%). In total, 22 teeth associated with hypercementosis were found. Seven maxillary teeth were associated with hypercementosis (31.82%) and 15 mandibular teeth (68.18%) (P = .198). No significant differences were found regarding left-side and right-side occurrence of the affected teeth (P > .05). Hypercementosis was significantly more often associated with premolars and molars than with incisors (P < .01). Hypercementosis was found in 11 of 800 patients (1.33%). It was identified in 22 of the 18,589 teeth examined (0.12%).

Conclusions: The occurrence of hypercementosis among this selected German population was rare. Female patients were approximately 10 times more often affected than male patients. Mandibular teeth were approximately twice as often associated with hypercementosis as maxillary teeth.