Mitzi J. Palazzolo, DDS, MS, Maj, USAF, DC, is a staff member in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology in the 59th Dental Training Squadron and an associate professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She is also a diplomate of the Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
While a large radiopaque mass of the maxilla could represent a variety of oral health problems, a differential diagnosis is the key to pinpointing the cause.
Redefining diagnostic skills and refreshing their knowledge of anatomy will help dental hygienists recognize the most common variations in normal radiographs, as well as the most frequently encountered incidental findings.