title: A case of extensive maxillary benign cementoblastoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present paper is to report a case of benign cementoblastoma (BC) involving multiple maxillary teeth and discuss the importance of its diagnosis in clinical oral practice.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  BC is a rare, benign odontogenic neoplasm of ectomesenchymal origin. This neoplasm has characteristic radiologic and microscopic features, and it is intimately associated with the roots of teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intra-oral examination in a 21-year-old white man revealed a palatine growth in the premolar-molar region. Dental panoramic and periapical radiographies showed a mixed radiodense/radiolucent lesion closely associated with the roots of three maxillary teeth. A biopsy was undertaken and confirmed the clinical hypothesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most cases, initial BC is asymptomatic and early diagnosis can be performed by routine radiographic examination. BC was considered as an indolent lesion for several years. Nevertheless, recent studies have demonstrated that some BCs may exhibit aggressive biological behavior and can affect several teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because a benign cementoblastoma represents an odontogenic lesion, general practicing professionals must be able to identify the main features of this tumor. This case corroborates some papers that have demonstrated a possible aggressive behavior of BC. Therefore, a brief update concerning the clinical and radiographic features of this unique tumor is also provided.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Brasília (UnB-DF), Brasília, DF, Brazil. rivadavioamorim@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Rivadávio Fernandes Batista
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Amorim
authors.forename: Ericka Janine Dantas
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Mariana Nóbrega
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo Machado
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Normeu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lima Júnior
authors.forename: Daniel Rey
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult