Abstract
Background: This study sought to determine the prevalence of carotid artery calcifications (CACs) and pulp stones detected on panoramic radiographs (PRs) and ascertain their correlation. Methods: A total of 2013 digital PRs were retrospectively retrieved and thoroughly examined to determine the prevalence of CACs and pulp stones, their correlation with patient age and gender, and the relationship between the presence of pulps stones and radiographically detectable CACs. Results: The prevalence of CACs on PRs was 2.0%; the prevalence of pulp stones was 4.6%. There was no statistical relationship between pulp stones and CACs (p = 0.714). Older patients exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of CACs than younger patients (p < 0.001); pulp stones were statistically more prevalent in younger patients than older patients (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between male and females in terms of the prevalence of either CACs or pulp stones (p = 0.087 and p = 0.278, respectively). Conclusions: Dentists should be trained to detect CACs on PRs belonging to patients older than 40 to exclude the presence of CACs. Moreover, pulp stones do not function as a diagnostic marker for CACs.
Highlights
Calcium mineral deposition in ectopic areas and dystrophic lesions may occur in several pathologic conditions, such as arterial atherosclerosis
We investigated the prevalence of CACs detected on digital panoramic radiographs (PRs) in a Saudi Arabian population
Many studies have supported the notion that the presence of CACs in PRs is considered a risk indictor of significant peripheral arterial disease and cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease events, stroke, transient ischemic attack, and metabolic syndrome [24]
Summary
Calcium mineral deposition in ectopic areas and dystrophic lesions may occur in several pathologic conditions, such as arterial atherosclerosis. This mineral deposition results in the appearance of lesions or plaque, which can be quantified radiographically. The mechanism underlying the atherosclerotic calcification represents a meeting of bone biology with chronic plaque inflammation, passive mineral deposition and/or regulated active new bone formation or remodeling. There are many reports that have correlated the presence and severity of calcifications with a patient’s total burden of atherosclerotic lesions and the increased chance of future adverse vascular events [3,4,5,6]. This study sought to determine the prevalence of carotid artery calcifications (CACs) and pulp stones detected on panoramic radiographs (PRs) and ascertain their correlation
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