Aim: To determine the range and demographic features of radiolucent jaw lesions in a New Zealand population.

Methods: Histopathology reports from the University of Otago School of Dentistry over a 20‐year period were reviewed to identify radiolucent jaw lesions. Reporting characteristics where standardised over the time period. There were no clinical exclusive criteria and the samples represented a wide range of clinical presentation and treatment history from multiple providers. Data were analysed using SPSS.

Results: A total of 17 038 specimens were submitted to the oral pathology diagnostic service of which there were 4983 radiolucent lesions that fulfilled the criteria to be included in the study. The full range of pathology was detected over the twenty‐year period and the study showed that the five most common radiolucent jaw lesions were the periapical granuloma, radicular cyst, dentigerous cyst, hyperplastic dental follicle and odontogenic keratocyst, which they accounted for 79.6% of all radiolucent jaw lesions.

Conclusion: The range and demographic features of radiolucent jaw lesions in a New Zealand population was similar to international trends.