The prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis in patients attending the Dr. René Puig Bentz dental clinic at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña.

Idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO) is a benign anatomical anomaly characterized by areas of
compact bone without inflammatory or neoplastic cause, identified as an asymptomatic
radiographic finding. It can cause diagnostic confusion by mimicking other bone pathologies.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IO in patients attended at the Dr. René Puig
Bentz dental clinic of the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) between
January 2022 and December 2023, with the purpose of providing local epidemiological data
and strengthening differential diagnosis in clinical practice.
The hypothesis proposed that there is a significant prevalence of IO detectable on panoramic
radiographs, with possible variation according to sex, age, and anatomical location. For this
purpose, a descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was designed. A total of
4,471 digital panoramic radiographs from patients aged 20 to 60 years were reviewed,
applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure image quality and data validity.
Data collection was performed using a structured form created in Google Forms, where
variables such as sex, age, presence of IO, anatomical location, shape, and radiographic
characteristics were recorded. The images were analyzed with Romexis® software, which
allowed detailed visualization and standardized measurement tools. Additionally,
interobserver calibration was performed using Cohen's Kappa index to guarantee diagnostic
reliability.
The results revealed an overall prevalence of IO of 12.4%, with predominance in women and
in the 20 to 30-year age group. The most frequent location was the mandible, especially in the
premolar and molar regions. Most lesions presented irregular shape and well-defined borders.
Furthermore, a significant association was observed with a history of dental extractions and
edentulous areas.
This study confirms that idiopathic osteosclerosis is a relatively frequent radiographic finding
in the evaluated population and highlights its benign nature as an anatomical variant. It
underscores the importance of recognizing its imaging characteristics to avoid misdiagnosis
and unnecessary treatments. The research provides valuable epidemiological data for the
Dominican population, strengthening local knowledge and offering a basis for future
investigations and clinical applications in dental diagnosis.