The Prevalence and Distribution of Radiopaque, Calcified Pulp Stones: A Cone-beam computed Tomography Study in a Northern Taiwanese Population

Overview

Journal J Dent Sci

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2019 Mar 22

PMID 30895109

Citations 19

Authors

Chen-Yu Hsieh

Yu-Chiao Wu

Chi-Chun Su

Ming-Pang Chung

Ren-Yeong Huang

Pei-Yueh Ting

Cheng-Kai Lai

Katherine Shaotzu Chang

Yi-Wen Cathy Tsai

Yi-Shing Shieh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/purpose: Presence of pulp stones increase the difficulty of locating canal orifice during endodontic treatment. This study aims to determine the prevalence of pulp stones in a northern Taiwanese population through analysis of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials And Methods: A total of 144 patients and 2554 teeth were used in the present study which were collected from a CBCT image archive. To determine the presence of pulp stones, images of pulp chamber and root canals were analyzed in the sagittal, axial and coronal planes and from the occlusal to apical direction. Correlations between pulp stones and gender, age, tooth type, dental arch or side were also examined.

Results: Of the 144 patients, 120 patients (83.3%) and 800 (31.3%) teeth were found to have one or more pulp stones through CBCT examination. Prevalence of pulp stones between dental arches and tooth types were significantly different ( < 0.001). Pulp stones were found to be the most prevalent in first molars (50.0%) and most scarce in first premolars (18.8%). There was no significant correlation between pulp stones and gender, increasing age, or dental sides.

Conclusion: Pulp stones are more frequent in maxillary teeth compared to mandibular teeth. Pulp stones in molar teeth were significantly more common than premolars and incisors. CBCT could be a sensitive tool to detect pulp stones, especially simplifying identification of pulp stones in radicular pulp. Knowledge of pulp stones distribution can aid dentists in clinical endodontic treatment.

Citing Articles

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Assessment of the Prevalence and Association of Pulp Calcification with Dental and Periodontal Pathology: A Descriptive Study.

Sanz J, Callado L, Mantale S, Nicolas J, Ghilotti J, Llena C J Clin Med. 2025; 14(4).

PMID: 40004903 PMC: 11856091. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14041373.

Distribution and influencing factors of pulp stones based on CBCT: a retrospective observational study from southwest China.

Zhang W, Wang Y, Ye L, Zhou Y BMC Oral Health. 2024; 24(1):947.

PMID: 39148066 PMC: 11325625. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04727-3.

Multiple pulp stones emerge across all teeth during mixed dentition: A case report.

Lv Y, Zhu J, Fu C, Liu L, Wang J, Li Y World J Clin Cases. 2024; 12(22):5189-5195.

PMID: 39109051 PMC: 11238816. DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i22.5189.

Pulp stones in unerupted teeth: a retrospective analysis using cone-beam computed tomography.

Kaabi H, Riyahi A, Bakrman A, Almutaw Y, Alrumayyan S, Al-Maflehi N BMC Oral Health. 2024; 24(1):714.

PMID: 38907221 PMC: 11191153. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04503-3.

Pulp stones: any relevance with the levels of serum calcium, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D and uric acid.

Gurhan C, Saruhan E Restor Dent Endod. 2024; 49(2):e17.

PMID: 38841388 PMC: 11148410. DOI: 10.5395/rde.2024.49.e17.

References

VanDenBerghe J, Panther B, Gound T . Pulp stones throughout the dentition of monozygotic twins: a case report. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1999; 87(6):749-51. DOI: 10.1016/s1079-2104(99)70174-5. View

Ranjitkar S, Taylor J, Townsend G . A radiographic assessment of the prevalence of pulp stones in Australians. Aust Dent J. 2002; 47(1):36-40. DOI: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2002.tb00301.x. View

Bevelander G, Johnson P . Histogenesis and histochemistry of pulpal calcification. J Dent Res. 1956; 35(5):714-22. DOI: 10.1177/00220345560350050901. View

RUBACH W, Mitchell D . PERIODONTAL DISEASE, ACCESSORY CANALS AND PULP PATHOSIS. J Periodontol (1930). 1965; 36:34-8. DOI: 10.1902/jop.1965.36.1.34. View

Edds A, Walden J, Scheetz J, Goldsmith L, Drisko C, Eleazer P . Pilot study of correlation of pulp stones with cardiovascular disease. J Endod. 2005; 31(7):504-6. DOI: 10.1097/01.don.0000168890.42903.2b. View

Zeng J, Zhang W, Jiang H, Ling J . [Isolation, cultivation and initial identification of Nanobacteria from dental pulp stone]. Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2006; 41(8):498-501. View

Patel S, Dawood A, Pitt Ford T, Whaites E . The potential applications of cone beam computed tomography in the management of endodontic problems. Int Endod J. 2007; 40(10):818-30. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2007.01299.x. View

Goga R, Chandler N, Oginni A . Pulp stones: a review. Int Endod J. 2008; 41(6):457-68. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2008.01374.x. View

Hammad M, Qualtrough A, Silikas N . Evaluation of root canal obturation: a three-dimensional in vitro study. J Endod. 2009; 35(4):541-4. DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2008.12.021. View

10.

Gulsahi A, Cebeci A, Ozden S . A radiographic assessment of the prevalence of pulp stones in a group of Turkish dental patients. Int Endod J. 2009; 42(8):735-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2009.01580.x. View

11.

Kansu O, Ozbek M, Avcu N, Aslan U, Kansu H, Genctoy G . Can dental pulp calcification serve as a diagnostic marker for carotid artery calcification in patients with renal diseases?. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2009; 38(8):542-5. DOI: 10.1259/dmfr/13231798. View

12.

Cunha-Cruz J, Pashova H, Packard J, Zhou L, Hilton T . Tooth wear: prevalence and associated factors in general practice patients. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2010; 38(3):228-34. PMC: 3116086. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2010.00537.x. View

13.

Siskos G, Georgopoulou M . Unusual case of general pulp calcification (pulp stones) in a young Greek girl. Endod Dent Traumatol. 1990; 6(6):282-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-9657.1990.tb00433.x. View

14.

Colak H, Celebi A, Hamidi M, Bayraktar Y, Colak T, Uzgur R . Assessment of the prevalence of pulp stones in a sample of Turkish Central Anatolian population. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012; 2012:804278. PMC: 3356746. DOI: 10.1100/2012/804278. View

15.

Patel S, Durack C, Abella F, Shemesh H, Roig M, Lemberg K . Cone beam computed tomography in Endodontics - a review. Int Endod J. 2014; 48(1):3-15. DOI: 10.1111/iej.12270. View

16.

Kannan S, Kannepady S, Muthu K, Jeevan M, Thapasum A . Radiographic assessment of the prevalence of pulp stones in Malaysians. J Endod. 2014; 41(3):333-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2014.10.015. View

17.

Rosen E, Taschieri S, Fabbro M, Beitlitum I, Tsesis I . The Diagnostic Efficacy of Cone-beam Computed Tomography in Endodontics: A Systematic Review and Analysis by a Hierarchical Model of Efficacy. J Endod. 2015; 41(7):1008-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2015.02.021. View

18.

Chan C, You H, Lian H, Huang C . Patients receiving comprehensive periodontal treatment have better clinical outcomes than patients receiving conventional periodontal treatment. J Formos Med Assoc. 2016; 115(3):152-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2015.10.017. View

19.

Lari S, Shokri A, Hosseinipanah S, Rostami S, Sabounchi S . Comparative Sensitivity Assessment of Cone Beam Computed Tomography and Digital Radiography for detecting Foreign Bodies. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2016; 17(3):224-9. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1831. View

20.

da Silva E, Prado M, Queiroz P, Nejaim Y, Brasil D, Groppo F . Assessing pulp stones by cone-beam computed tomography. Clin Oral Investig. 2016; 21(7):2327-2333. DOI: 10.1007/s00784-016-2027-5. View