Publication: Radiographic Assessment of Occurrence of Pulp Stones in Molars of Selected Adult Nepalese Populations at Tertiary Care Center
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Pulp stones or “denticles” are a frequent finding in coronal and radicular pulp of
primary and permanent dentition. These discrete calcified bodies can be seen in a
healthy, diseased and sometimes even in an unerupted tooth. These calcifications
are mostly present in molars as free, attached or embedded to dentine of pulp
chamber or root canals.
Objective
To determine the occurrence of pulp stones in molars of selected adult Nepalese
population using radiographs and assess the association of its occurrence gender
and arch wise.
Method
A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed using orthopantomogram of total
380 patients (190 male and 190 females) of age group ranging from 16-30 years by
convenience sampling. Data were collected through the examination of both hard
and soft copies of radiographs under magnification. Pulp stones were scored as
present or absent and their association with gender and dental arch were recorded.
Descriptive statistics and chi square test was performed to see the prevalence and to
compare the occurrence of pulp stone respectively.
Result
Out of 380 radiographic samples, pulp stones were present in 41.05% of the samples.
The occurrence of pulp stones were found to be higher in females than in males,
although the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.060).The total number
of teeth with pulp stones was 238 and 61 in maxillary and mandibular arches
respectively, with statistically significant difference (p<0.001).
Conclusion
The overall occurrence of pulp stone was found to be 41.05%. It was observed more
in females (45.78%) than in males (37%) and more frequently located in maxillary
molars (29.2%) than in mandibular molars (8.2%).
KEY WORDS
Denticles, Molars, Nepalese population, Prevalence, Pulp stones
Description
Acharya N,1 Chakradhar A,2 Kafle D3
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics,
Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus,
Dental Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
2Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
3Department of Orthodontics
Dhulilkhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital,
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences,
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Denticles, Molars, Nepalese population, Prevalence, Pulp stones