Pulp stones in intact teeth: a study in 5616 medical records

Abstract

Considering the possible correlation of pulp stones (PS) with systemic diseases, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of PS in healthy teeth and to associate it with age, sex, and systemic changes such as hypertension, diabetes and smoking. To this end, panoramic digital radiographs of individuals aged 9-75 years, from the Getúlio Vargas Dental Polyclinic University of Uberaba, Brazil were evaluated. Patients with PS in teeth with restorations and/or dental cavities, just like patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, or with a history of mechanical trauma and bruxism were excluded. There were analyzed 5616 medical records. In this way, PS were observed in 263 patients and 96 of these patients had at least one PS in healthy teeth. Of the patients with PS in intact teeth, 64,6% were female and 35.4% were male. All teeth with PS were molars. Of the 96 patients with PS in intact teeth, 50% had PS in only one tooth; 27.1% had PS in two teeth; 13.6% had PS in three teeth; 6.3% had PS in four teeth; 1.0% had PS in five teeth; and 2.1% had PS in six teeth. Patients with hypertension presented with a higher frequency of PS in three or four teeth (p =0.0021). PS in one or two teeth was more prevalent in smokers (p = 0.005). The results suggest there is a positive association between the presence in three or more teeth with PS and arterial hypertension, and in one or two teeth with PS with smoking.