This communication reports5casesof cervical and 1 apical cemental tears. The diagnosis of the cervical tears was made by a characteristic feature which presented radiographically as a prickle‐like body. The fragment of cementum could be detached by root planing or during periodontal surgery and uneventful healing was obtained following these procedures. The process of aging in addition to continuous occlusal strain may lead to this phenomenon. Cervical cemental tear may be one of the contributing factors in the progress of adult periodontitis.J Periodontol 1996;67:15–20.