A radiograph of the mandibular posteriors in a patient reveals radiopacity above the apices of right 1st molar. No restoration or cavity present. There is no pain or swelling and the pulp is vital. The diagnosis is:
Periapical granuloma
Cementoblastoma
Radicular cyst
Chronic abscess
Radiographic Features:
The tumor mass is attached to the tooth root and appears as a well-circumscribed dense radiopaque mass often surrounded by a thin, uniform radiolucent line. The outline of the affected root is generally obliterated, because of resorption of the root and fusion of the mass to the tooth.
The associated tooth is vital, unless coincidentally involved. The lesion is slow-growing and may cause expansion of cortical plates of bone, but is usually otherwise asymptomatic.
Ref: Shafer's textbook of oral pathology 7th edition page 736