RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE
• The typical radiographic appearance of the periodontal abscess is that of a discrete radiolucency along the lateral
aspect of the root. Many variables may alter this such as:
1) stage of the lesion;
2) extent of bone destruction and morphology of the bone;
and 3) the location of the abscess (i.e., abscesses on the facial or lingual surface are obscured by radiopacity of the root). The radiograph alone is not sufficient for the diagnosis (Glickman, 1979)