Thomas E. Levy and Hal A. Huggins

Cavitations (CVs) are persistent holes found at the extraction sites of permanent teeth after apparent healing has taken place. Current dental literature considers this common phenomenon to be rare. In the scientific literature, CVs have a plethora of synonyms. They have been variably labeled as Ratner, Roberts or trigger point bone cavities, interference fields, neuralgia-inducing cavitational ostenonecrosis (NICO), and alveolar cavitational osteopathosis. Evidence suggests that the incidence of CVs is presently grossly underestimated.