Floating teeth
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Bickle I, Baba Y, Masters M, et al. Floating teeth. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22472
rID:
22472
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Ian Bickle had no recorded disclosures.
View Ian Bickle's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Yahya Baba had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Yahya Baba's current disclosures
Revisions:
18 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Floating dentition
- Floating tooth
Floating teeth is the description given to the appearances on imaging of teeth that appear to be floating as a result of alveolar bone destruction around their roots.
Differential diagnosis
They are uncommonly encountered, with a wide differential diagnosis - albeit that the underlying cause will almost always be an aggressive bone disease/lesion. Causes include 1-7:
- severe periodontal disease (most common cause 1)
- hyperparathyroidism
- metastases
- multiple myeloma
- ameloblastoma
- osteomyelitis
- lymphoma
- alveolar squamous cell carcinoma
- nerve-based or primary bone tumours (e.g. Ewing sarcoma) of the mandible or maxilla
- eosinophilic granuloma 5
- cherubism 6
- Gorham disease 7
References
- 1. Underhill T, Katz J, Pope T, Dunlap C. Radiologic Findings of Diseases Involving the Maxilla and Mandible. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1992;159(2):345-50. doi:10.2214/ajr.159.2.1632353 - Pubmed
- 2. Keusch K, Poole C, King D. The Significance of "Floating Teeth" in Children. Radiology. 1966;86(2):215-9. doi:10.1148/86.2.215 - Pubmed
- 3. Burgener F, Kormano M. Differential Diagnosis in Conventional Radiology. TIS. ISBN:B005R1OPQW. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Stephen G. Davies. Chapman & Nakielny's Aids to Radiological Differential Diagnosis. (2013) ISBN: 9780702051760 - Google Books
- 5. Dy A, Cabungcal A, Pangan R. Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: Vanishing Mandible in a 10-Year-Old. Acta Oto-Laryngologica Case Reports. 2016;1(1):36-9. doi:10.1080/23772484.2016.1209639
- 6. Lima G, Almeida J, Cabral L. Cherubism: Clinicoradiographic Features and Treatment. J Oral Maxillofac Res. 2010;1(2):e2. doi:10.5037/jomr.2010.1202 - Pubmed
- 7. Raghuveer H & Jayalekshmy R. Gorham's Massive Osteolysis of the Mandible - a Progressive Radiographic Presentation. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2009;38(5):292-5. doi:10.1259/dmfr/73198793 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Cases:
- Floating teeth
- Floating teeth
- Central giant cell granuloma
- Floating tooth: maxillary metastasis
- Marked hard plaque (tartar) and floating teeth due to severe periodontal disease
- Floating teeth - alveolar carcinoma
- Ameloblastoma
- Floating teeth
- Squamous cell carcinoma invading the mandible
- Maxillary sarcoma with metastasis
Related articles: Lucent lesions of the jaw
General reading
Pathology
- odontogenic
- non-odontogenic
- fibrous dysplasia (cherubism)
- mandibular metastases
- squamous cell carcinoma invading mandible
- multiple myeloma
- periapical abscess
- giant cell granuloma
- aneurysmal bone cyst
- peripheal nerve sheath tumour of mandible
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