The frequency and characteristics of idiopathic osteosclerosis and condensing osteitis lesions in a Turkish patient population.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO) and condensing osteitis (CO) in a Turkish patient population, considering factors such as age and sex of the population, in addition to shape and localization, as well as the dental relationship between IO and CO lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs of 6,154 patients ranging in age from 5 to 69 years old, who had been subjected to dental treatment. Descriptive characteristics of radiopacities, including shape, localization and dental relationship were recorded. The Chi-squared test was used. RESULTS A total of 238 radiopacities were detected, which included 185 IO lesions in 150 (2.44 %) subjects (96 female, 54 male and mean age: 26.2), and 53 CO lesions in 50 (0.81 %) subjects (27 female, 23 male and mean age: 32.8). Both IO and CO lesions were found to be higher in number among females, as compared to males. However, this difference was statistically significant for IO lesions only (p<0.001). The frequency of IO lesions was found to be significantly higher in the 3rd and 4th decades of life (20-39 years) than in other decades (p<0.001). On the other hand, the frequency with which the CO lesions were detected was similar in ages ranging between 20-39 and 40-69 years old, and its frequency in these periods was noted to be statistically higher than in the 1st and 2nd decades of life (p<0.01). CONCLUSION Our results point to the low IO and CO frequency among the Turkish population. In addition, our findings support the theory that IO lesions are developmental variations of normal bone architecture unrelated to a local stimulant, whereas CO lesions could be considered reactive formations related to teeth with severe caries, restoration or pulpitis.