Longitudinal radiographic assessment of dense bone islands of the jaws

This study assessed dense bone island (DBI) inception and growth in jaws.

A population of 2991 patients (age range 5 to 35 years) was studied with at least two panoramic radiographs taken 1 to 10 years apart for each patient. Lesions were digitized and measured with computer measuring software. The size of the earliest DBI was compared with subsequent DBI measurements after the latter measurement was normalized with reference to the size of the nearest tooth.

Sixty-nine patients with DBIs were identified. A total of 3.1% of the patients with DBI were found in the 5- to 10-year age range, with the first patient in the DBI group found at 9.4 years. A significantly higher proportion (p = 0.002) of the unaffected patients (26%) was found in the same 5-to 10-year age range. The proportions of patients in the DBI and unaffected groups in older age ranges were similar. Assessment of DBI size changes showed that 43% of the 53 DBIs detected between 9.4 and 19 years enlarged (mean change, 212%), and 17% diminished (mean change, 49%). In comparison, 29.4% of 17 DBIs detected between 20 and 35 years enlarged (mean change, 153%), and 5.9% diminished (mean change, 60%).

Our results indicate that DBIs are labile lesions, develop during early adolescence, and retain a potential for enlargement, or to a lesser extent shrinkage, into adulthood.