title: Cemental tear: clinical characteristics and its predisposing factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cemental tears often show characteristics mimicking a periapical or periodontal lesion. This leads to difficulty in the early diagnosis of cemental tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicenter study, 71 teeth with cemental tears being confirmed by direct inspection or histological examination were included. For each case, demographic data, dental history, clinical and radiographic findings, and the results of exploratory surgery were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maxillary or mandibular incisors (76.1%) were most frequently affected by cemental tears. Univariate analysis of predisposing factors found that teeth with cemental tears occurred more commonly in men (77.5%) and patients older than 60 years of age (73.2%). Analysis of clinical characteristics showed that teeth with cemental tears were prone to have abscess formation (66.2%), a deep pocket >6 mm (73.2%), positive vitality test (65.3%), healthy antagonist teeth (84.3%), and moderate to severe attrition (77.9%). About 56.3% of cemental tears could be detected on preoperative radiographs. Further analysis of radiographic findings showed that teeth with cemental tears were more likely to have periodontal bone destruction (85.9%) or periapical bone destruction (64.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endodontists and dentists may avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment of teeth with cemental tears if they can properly evaluate the radiographs and pulp vitality of teeth as well as know the predisposing factors and clinical characteristics of teeth with cemental tears in advance.
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chiu-Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chu-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chen-Tsai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yi-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chi-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuen-Dah
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chiu-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jiiang-Huei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeng
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000293:injuries; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000150:complications; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000293:injuries; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000150:complications; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000150:complications; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*