Hard Facts about Stones: Pulpal Calcifications: A Review

Abstract

Pulp calcifications stones are discrete calcifications within the pulps of teeth. They are a frequent finding on bitewing and periapical radiographs. Johnson and Bevelander stated that a single tooth may have stones ranging from 1 to 12 or even more, with sizes varying from minute particle to large masses that occlude the pulp space. They often develop in teeth that appear quite normal in other respects. They have been seen in both functional as well as embedded teeth. Inspite of this frequent occurrence, they have received relatively little attention in textbooks. The purpose of this review was to examine these pulp stones from all the aspects including their pathogenesis, clinical aspects, histopathology, current perspectives and contemporary research on the same.

A Retrospective Analysis of Pulp Stones in Patients following Orthodontic Treatment

“…In dental treatment prospect, attached stones possess hindrances in the way of exploring instruments by engaging or deflecting their tip during endodontic procedure, thus preventing their easy movement inside the canal. 14,15…”

Histological Aspects Regarding Dental Pulp of Diabetic Patients

“…The multiple diffuse calcifications can be a result of chronic hypoxia and cell death. Pulps of diabetics are more prone to such calcifications and have been linked to elevated hyperglycemia, duration of diabetes and diabetic vascular changes [13,14]. Other studies found that diabetic patients have pulp inflammatory lesions and even areas of pulp necrosis [9].…”

“…Pulp denticles are usually age-related calcifications, frequently identified in pulp chambers or root channels of the elderly. Previous studies have shown that the dental pulp of diabetics is more susceptible to such calcifications and has been linked to elevated hyperglycemia, duration of diabetes and possible diabetic vascular changes in uncontrolled diabetics [13,14]. Moreover, the shape of these denticles in diabetics is different (sickle) to those of non-diabetics (spheroid), according to previous histologic observations [15].…”

“Captain of All These Men of Death”: An Integrated Case Study of Tuberculosis in Nineteenth-Century Otago, New Zealand

“…Pulp stones are most likely to be found in molars, more often maxillary than mandibular. Etiology is unknown, but a number of different causes are mentioned in reviews, including longstanding irritation of the tooth pulp due to decay or excessive wear (Goga et al, 2008;Jannati et al, 2018;Vibhute et al 2016), and systemic diseases, in particular cardiovascular disease (Bains et al, 2014;Edds et al, 2005;Khojastepour et al, 2013). There is also a single report linking hypervitaminosis D to pulp stone formation (Giunta, 1998).…”