Idiopathic osteosclerosis of the jaws followed through a period of 20-27 years.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO) in a baseline sample and to follow the patients through an extended period of time.
METHODOLOGY: The sample consisted of 210 patients treated in a dental school and having a complete series of intraoral radiographs at the time of treatment and at a follow-up 10-17 years later. A further 10 years later, 130 patients had another follow-up.
RESULTS: Sixteen of the 210 patients were found to have IO, mostly in the mandibular molar and premolar regions. Fourteen had one lesion, one had two lesions and one had three lesions. The mean age of these patients was 47 years as compared to 44 years for the rest of the patient group. No sex predilection was found. At the first follow-up, one lesion had disappeared, one had reduced in size and one new lesion appeared. At the second follow-up, eight patients with IO could be re-examined. Two lesions, unchanged at the first follow-up, had reduced in size and two new lesions appeared. In the area of the new lesions, residual roots were observed in the earlier radiographs.
CONCLUSION: Our findings support the theory that IO lesions should be considered anatomical variants. In some cases, however, a local aetiological agent may cause development of structures with an identical appearance.