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Prevalence and location of denticles on panoramic radiographs
Maria Syryńska1, Magdalena Durka-Zajac, Joanna Janiszewska-Olszowska
1Katedra i Zakład Ortodoncji Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej w Szczecinie al. Powstańiców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin.
Objective:
Assessment of the prevalence of denticles and their location with respect to teeth groups and to dental cavities on panoramic radiographs in a randomly selected group of individuals.
Material And Methods:
The material consisted of 165 panoramic radiographs of individuals aged 9-76 years (111 females and 54 males). Permanent teeth were studied using a negatoscope. The presence and location of denticles was determined with respect to groups of teeth and particular parts of dental cavities.
Results:
Denticles were found in 51.5% of panoramic radiographs. They were present in both dental arches in 51.8% of radiographs. Altogether, 248 denticles were found, out of which 61.7% were located in the upper dental arch. Pulp stones were found in pulp chambers only, usually in filled molars, in 69.4% of radiographs. Over 50% of all denticles were found in the first molar teeth.
Conclusions:
(1) The prevalence of denticles exceeds 50%. (2) Denticles occurred in pulp chambers in 69.4% of the individuals. In 91.6% of cases, denticles were found in multirooted teeth, mainly in the first molars and usually under fillings. These findings are a confirmation that denticles appear during chronic inflammation as the consequence of pulp irritation caused by caries or fillings.
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