Cemental Tear: A Comprehensive Literature Review of Etiology, Diagnosis and Management

Authors

  • Apichada Jayema Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University
  • Jittranan Kaewprag Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University

Keywords:

Cemental tear, Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Periodontal attachment loss

Abstract

Cemental tear is a pathological condition characterized by the separation of cementum from the dentin at the cemento-dentinal junction (CDJ). This condition is often overlooked and misdiagnosed due to its non-specific symptoms, such as rapid periodontal attachment loss, localized deep periodontal pockets, and persistent sinus tracts despite appropriate periodontal and/or endodontic treatment. Diagnosis with conventional 2D radiography can be difficult and may lead to confusion with other conditions. However, the detection rate of this condition has increased, possibly due to the growing use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Therefore, the objective of this literature review is to review the relevant literature on the etiology, diagnosis, and management of cemental tear to provide a better understanding and enable clinicians to apply this knowledge in their clinical practice.

References

Watanabe C, Watanabe Y, Miyauchi M, Fujita M, Watanabe Y. Multiple cemental tears. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2012;114: 365-72.

Özkan G, Hicran Dönmez Ö. Evaluation of Cemental Tear Frequency Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective

Study. Meandros med. dental j. 2020;2: 128-33.

Keskin C, Güler DH. A Retrospective Study of the Prevalence of Cemental Tear in a Sample of the Adult Population Applied Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Dentistry. Meandros med. dental j. 2017;18:115-9.

Jeng P-Y, Luzi AL, Pitarch RM, Chang M-C, Wu Y-H, Jeng J-H. Cemental tear: To know what we have neglected in dental practice. J Formos Med Assoc. 2018;117:261-7.

Yamamoto T, Domon T, Takahashi S, Arambawatta AKS, Wakita M. Immunolocalization of proteoglycans and bone-related noncollagenous glycoproteins in developing acellular cementum of rat molars. Cell Tissue Res. 2004;317:2

-312.

Haney JM, Leknes KN, Lie T, Selvig KA, Wikesjö UM. Cementai tear related to rapid periodontal breakdown: A case report. J Periodontol. 1992;63:220-4.

Borkar SA, de Ataide IdN. Management and 5-year follow-up of tooth with bilateral cemental tear and complete pulp canal

obliteration. J Conserv Dent. 2019;22: 213-4.

Chawla A, Kumar V. Cemental tear: an unusual cause for persisting endodontic periodontal lesion. Indian J Dent Res. 2019;30:140-3.

Noma N, Kakigawa H, Kozono Y, Yokota M. Cementum crack formation by repeated loading in vitro. J Periodontol. 2007;78:764-9.

Lee AH, Neelakantan P, Dummer PM, Zhang C. Cemental tear: literature review, proposed classification and recommendations for treatment. Int Endod J. 2021;54:2044-73.

Lin H-J, Chan C-P, Yang C-Y, Wu C-T, Tsai Y-L, Huang C-C, et al. Cemental tear: clinical characteristics and its predisposing factors.

J Endod. 2011;37:611-8.

Lin H-J, Chang S-H, Chang M-C, Tsai Y-L, Chiang C-P, Chan C-P, et al. Clinical Fracture Site, Morphologic and Histopathologic Characteristics of Cemental Tear: Role in Endodontic Lesions. J Endod. 2012;38: 1058-62.

Zhao S, Yuan Z, Zhou X, Yang X. Clinical, radiographic features and prognosis of cemental tear: A retrospective study of 63 teeth. Heliyon. 2024;10:e30999.

Camargo PM, Pirih FQ, Wolinsky LE, Lekovic V, Kamrath H, White SN. Clinical repair of an osseous defect associated with a cemental

tear: a case report. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2003;23.

Ong TK, Harun N, Lim TW. Cemental tear on maxillary anterior incisors: a description of clinical, radiographic, and histopathological

features of two clinical cases. Eur Endod J. 2019;4:90.

Schmidlin PR. Regenerative treatment of a cemental tear using enamel matrix derivatives: a ten-year follow-up. Open Dent J. 2012;6:148. การฉีกขาดของเคลือบรากฟัน 113 อภิชาดา ชเยมะ, จิตรานันท์ แก้วแพรก Thai Endodontic Association Thai Endod J

Lin H-J, Chan C-P, Wu C-T, Jeng J-H. Cemental tear on a mandibular second molar: a case report. Odontology. 2010;98:173-6.

Damasceno LS, Dutra WO, Melgaço EG, Souza PEAd, Zenóbio EG, Horta MCR. Cemental tear: a case report with nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Rev. odonto ciênc. 2012;27:74-7.

Pedercini A, Weitz D, Heyse Jr J, Pedercini C, Kormas I, Koutlas I, et al. Cemental tear: an overlooked finding associated with rapid periodontal destruction. A case series. Aust Dent J. 2021;66:S82-S7.

Nagata M, Nagata M, Kanie T, Shima K. Clinical and histologic aspects of cervical cemental tear as a risk for periodontal diseases.

Clin Adv Periodontics. 2016;6:167-74.

Chou J, Rawal YB, O’Neil JR, Tatakis DN. Cementodentinal tear: a case report with 7‐year

follow‐up. J Periodontol. 2004;75:1708-13. 22. Qari H, Dorn SO, Blum GN, Bouquot JE. The pararadicular radiolucency with vital pulp:

Clinicopathologic features of 21 cemental tears. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2019;128:680-9.

Camelo M, Nevins ML, Schenk RK, Simion M, Rasperini G, Lynch SE, et al. Clinical, Radiographic, and Histologic Evaluation of Human Periodontal Defects Treated with Bio-Oss and Blo-Gide. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 1998;18.

Lin HJ, Chang MC, Chang SH, Wu CT, Tsai YL, Huang CC, et al. Treatment outcome of the teeth with cemental tears. J Endod. 2014;

:1315-20.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-19

How to Cite

Jayema, A., & Kaewprag, . J. (2025). Cemental Tear: A Comprehensive Literature Review of Etiology, Diagnosis and Management. Thai Endodontic Journal, 4(2), 98–113. retrieved from https://he03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/thaiendod/article/view/4650

Issue

Section

Review article