Can Dental Pulp Calcification Serve As a Diagnostic Marker for Carotid Artery Calcification in Patients with Renal Diseases?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the presence of pulp calcification and carotid artery calcification on dental panoramic radiographs in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on haemodialysis and renal transplant recipients.

Methods: A total of 60 nephrology patients (29 haemodialysis patients and 31 renal transplant recipients) participated in this study. For all patients, both panoramic and periapical radiographs were evaluated twice by three examiners to determine the presence or absence of narrowing of the dental pulps and pulp stones in pulp chambers and canals. The kappa coefficient was used for intervariable agreement, and interexaminer reliability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient. Panoramic radiographs were also evaluated to determine carotid calcification. Ultrasound examination confirmed radiographic findings of carotid calcification on panoramic radiographs.

Results: Carotid calcifications were detected in 11 patients (6 haemodialysis patients and 5 transplant recipients). 48 patients (22 haemodialysis patients, 26 transplanted recipients) had dental pulp narrowing, and 8 patients (5 haemodialysis patients, 3 transplant recipients) had pulp stones. There was no statistical relation between pulp narrowing and carotid artery calcification (CAC) in the haemodialysis patient group and renal transplant recipients. There was also no statistical relation between pulp stones and CAC in haemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients.

Conclusion: In our study, no relationship was found between the presence of pulpal calcification and CAC in ESRD patients on haemodialysis and renal transplant recipients. Therefore, the presence of pulp calcification does not seem to serve as a diagnostic marker for carotid atherosclerosis.