Abstract
Apical periodontitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition that occurs around the root of a tooth. AP is a common disease, which increases in prevalence with age. This chapter describes the radiologicalpresentation of healthy and diseased periapical tissues at diagnosis and follow-up of treatment. The interpretation of radiographic images of the apical periodontium is complicated by “noise” created by the superimposition of anatomical structures over the area of interest or area under observation. Deposition of cementum on the apex of a root occurs throughout life. The periodontal ligament space is the soft tissue connecting the dental cementum and the lamina dura of the surrounding bone. The nature and size of AP is accurately represented by Cone Beam Computed Tomography scans. Very little is known about how the healing process of AP manifests radiographically; the healing timescale is highly variable. Osteomyelitis may be a continuation of an AP, when the infection spreads and destroys the bone marrow.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Essential Endodontology |
| Subtitle of host publication | Prevention and Treatment of Apical Periodontitis |
| Publisher | WILEY-BLACKWELL |
| Pages | 179-210 |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781119272014 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781119271956 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Nov 2019 |
Keywords
- Apical periodontitis
- Cementum deposition
- Cone beam computed tomography scan
- Healing process
- Osteomyelitis
- Radiographic image