Abstract: Cementum tear is a special form of root fracture, which is often treated incorrectly or delayed due to the difficulty of diagnosis. We report a cemental tear in a maxillary lateral incisor, which was not diagnosed and treated accurately in the early stage. The result was tooth extraction, because the alveolar bone is absorbed seriously. It is hoped that the review of this case can help clinicians understand and diagnose cementum tear accurately.

Key words: cemental tear, predisposing factors, clinical features, correct diagnosis