Idiopathic osteosclerosis in the jaws is often detected incidentally on dental radiographic examination and may resemble other radiopaque lesions or normal anatomical structures. This study aimed to evaluate the imaging characteristics of osteosclerosis on panoramic radiographs and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to improve differential diagnosis. Fifty-nine lesions from 55 patients(32 male, 23 female, mean age 29yrs±15) were retrospectively analyzed for location, shape, border, and internal structure on panoramic images, and for external contour, size, radiodensity, and cortical bone relationship on CBCT images. Most lesions were smaller than 10 mm, lacked a radiolucent border, and showed variable internal patterns. The cases where the internal structure appeared as mixed radiolucent and radiopaque on panoramic radiographs were found to show more uniform radiopacity on CBCT compared to panoramic radiographs. These findings may help clinicians distinguish osteosclerosis from other radiopaque entities and support more accurate diagnosis in daily dental practice.

• 김주영(전남대학교 치의학전문대학원) | Ju Yeong Kim (School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University)
• 정유진(전남대학교 치과병원 영상치의학과) | Youjin Jung (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Chonnam National University Dental Hospital)
• 송인자(광주여자대학교 간호학과) | In-Ja Song (Department of Nursing, Kwangju Women’s University)
• 윤숙자(전남대학교 치의학전문대학원 영상치의학교실, 치의학연구소) | Sukja Yoon (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute, Chonnam National University) Corresponding author