What is the term for the increase in bone density that occurs as a response to dental irritants?

What is the term for the increase in bone density that occurs as a response to dental irritants?

• A. Osteoporosis
• B. Focal sclerosing osteitis
• C. Bone resorption
• D. Acute osteitis

Answer: (B)

The term for the increase in bone density in response to dental irritants is focal sclerosing osteitis. This condition often occurs in the jawbone and is characterized by localized areas of bone deposition due to the body's inflammatory response to chronic irritation or infection, typically associated with a tooth or its surrounding structures. In focal sclerosing osteitis, the presence of irritants such as chronic periapical infection can stimulate the osteoblasts to form new bone, resulting in the noted increase in density on imaging studies. This phenomenon is an adaptive mechanism by the bone to protect itself from further damage and to reinforce the area under stress. Other terms listed do not describe this specific response. Osteoporosis refers to a general reduction in bone density rather than an increase; bone resorption is the process of breaking down bone tissue, leading to a loss in density; and acute osteitis generally refers to inflammation of the bone due to an acute infection or injury, which does not specifically address the process of localized bone formation in response to irritants.

The term for the increase in bone density in response to dental irritants is focal sclerosing osteitis. This condition often occurs in the jawbone and is characterized by localized areas of bone deposition due to the body's inflammatory response to chronic irritation or infection, typically associated with a tooth or its surrounding structures.

In focal sclerosing osteitis, the presence of irritants such as chronic periapical infection can stimulate the osteoblasts to form new bone, resulting in the noted increase in density on imaging studies. This phenomenon is an adaptive mechanism by the bone to protect itself from further damage and to reinforce the area under stress.

Other terms listed do not describe this specific response. Osteoporosis refers to a general reduction in bone density rather than an increase; bone resorption is the process of breaking down bone tissue, leading to a loss in density; and acute osteitis generally refers to inflammation of the bone due to an acute infection or injury, which does not specifically address the process of localized bone formation in response to irritants.