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 :

• severe periodontal disease (most common cause )
• hyperparathyroidism
• metastases
• multiple myeloma
• ameloblastoma
• osteomyelitis
• lymphoma
• alveolar squamous cell carcinoma
• nerve-based or primary bone tumors (e.g. Ewing sarcoma) of the mandible or maxilla
• eosinophilic granuloma 
• cherubism 
• Gorham disease