Prevalence of oral and maxillofacial soft tissue calcifications in dental panoramic radiography: A retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of soft tissue calcifications in digital dental panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods: Digital panoramic radiographs of 1314 dental patients who visited the Oral Radiology department from November 2017 to January 2018 were analyzed for soft tissue calcifications. Results: The most common soft tissue calcification identified were submandibular sialolith 30.43%, followed by 17.39% of phlebolith and 17.39% of calcified atherosclerotic plaques, 13.04% of, tonsillolith 8.69% of calcified stylohyoid ligament and 4.34% arteriosclerosis. Conclusion: There is low prevalence of soft tissue calcifications which increases with age, Atherosclerotic plaque occurs in male than in female. Once a soft tissue calcification is diagnosed incidentally in a routine dental radiograph it can aid in prevention of the disease. Keywords: Soft tissue calcifications, Sialolith, phlebolith, Atherosclerotic plaque, Panaromic radiography, Prevalence.