Abstract
Aim: Pulp stones are discrete calcified bodies found in the dental pulp. Sialolithasis is the most common salivary gland disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the pulp stones and salivary gland stones. Material and Methods: 196 patients were randomly selected from the out patient department for the study. The periapical radiographs for all patients were evaluated for the presence or absence of the narrowing of dental pulp chambers and pulp canals. The intra oral occlusal radiographs were also evaluated to determine the presence or absence of salivary stones. The results were compared and analyzed using the Chi-square test (p<0.001). Results: Salivary gland calcifications were detected in 5 patients. 191 patients had pulp narrowing and 118 patients had pulp stones. There was no statistical correlation between pulp narrowing and salivary stones (p>0.001) and also between pulp stones and salivary gland stones (p>0.001). Conclusions: However, the incidental findings of salivary gland stones on intra oral occlusal radiographs can provide useful information in the early diagnosis of the condition, but in the present study no significant relationship was found between the presence of pulp stones and salivary gland stones. Key words:Pulp stone, salivary gland stone, periapical radiograph, occlusal radiograph.
Highlights
The calcified structures in the dental pulps of healthy, diseased, and even unerupted teeth are known as pulp stones
The periapical radiographs for all patients were evaluated for the presence or absence of the narrowing of dental pulp chambers and pulp canals
All the stones were present in the submandibular glands. 4 (3%) salivary stone patients and 126 (97%) normal patients showed pulp narrowing. 66 (33.6%) patients presented with no narrowing of the pulp canals (Table 1)
Summary
The calcified structures in the dental pulps of healthy, diseased, and even unerupted teeth are known as pulp stones. They may be present in the teeth of deciduous and permanent dentition [1]. The submandibular salivary gland is the most common site for stone formation, given that around 60-90% of the stones are reported to be located in this gland. Drage et al [10] have reported a mean size of up to 3.4 mm (range from 1.5 to 9 mm) for the parotid and submandibular stones, and a mean number of 1.67 stones (range from 1 to 5) per patient. The present study was carried out to determine the relationship between the pulp stones and salivary gland stones
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