This week I am showcasing a frequently seen incidental finding; a retained deciduous root fragment. A retained deciduous root fragment can be seen monthly in a dental setting. The most commonly retained tooth is the deciduous second molar. These root fragments are seen on either the mesial or the distal (sometimes both) of the second premolar. It is more common in the mandible than the maxilla. This case shows a linear radiopaque entity to the mesial of the mandibular left second premolar (#20). There may or may not be a periodontal ligament space evident around the fragment. Check out this case. Click the image to enlarge.
For more information and other radiographs of retained deciduous root fragments check out my page on retained deciduous root fragments.
Enjoy!