Radiographic Identification of Type III Mandibular Dense Bone Island in an Elderly Patient

Celine Chelsea Hartono (Universitas Trisakti)
Rosalina Tjandrawinata (Universitas Trisakti)
Intan Farizka (Universitas Trisakti)
Sariyani Pancasari Audry Arifin (Universitas Trisakti)

Indonesian Journal of Dentistry
Vol 6, No 2 (2026): August 2026

Introduction: Dense Bone Island (DBI), or idiopathic osteosclerosis, is an asymptomatic radiopaque lesion often found incidentally during radiographic exams. Its etiology is linked to bone maturation, though not fully understood. The purpose of this report is to describe the radiographic identification of DBI in an elderly patient.Objective: To report a case of Type III and IV DBI in the mandible and discuss its radiographic differentiation from other pathologies.Case: A 62-year-old female patient underwent panoramic radiography, which revealed well-defined, homogeneous radiopaque lesions in the edentulous regions of teeth 37 and 47; while another radiopaque lesion was found at the apical region of tooth 44. The lesions were classified as Type III DBI as they were separate from any teeth or lamina dura and Type IV DBI since it was around root apex.Outcome: Accurate identification through panoramic imaging allowed for a definitive diagnosis without the need for invasive procedures.Conclusion: Panoramic radiography is an effective tool for identifying DBI, and recognizing its specific features is vital to avoid unnecessary interventions.