Dental pulp stone formation during orthodontic treatment: A retrospective clinical follow-up study

The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) To assess the incidence of dental pulp stone formation during orthodontic treatment, and (2) to determine the correlations between the presence of dental pulp stones and age, gender, and dental arches.

A sample of 545 patients (334 girls and 211 boys, age range; 12-22 years) who had undergone nonextraction orthodontic treatment were included in this study. 8442 teeth (T1) and 8410 teeth (T2), including the first and second maxillary and mandibular premolars and molars were evaluated from the pre- (T1) and post-treatment (T2) panoramic radiographs of the patients. The Pearson Chi-square test was used to investigate the associations between the presence of dental pulp stone, gender, age, tooth type and arches.

Dental pulp stones were detected in 3% of the teeth at pretreatment panoramic radiographs and 5.2% of the teeth at posttreatment panoramic radiographs. Pulp stone prevalence increased pointedly (2.2%) in the pre- and post-treatment radiographs (P < 0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the age groups (P < 0.001). In the maxilla, dental pulp stones were found significantly more than that in the mandible at T1 and T2 panoramic radiographs. Maxillary first molars exhibited dental pulp stones the most frequently, followed by the maxillary second molars and mandibular first molars.

Orthodontic treatment may trigger the formation of dental pulp stones. However, further studies are required to determine the relationship between the pulp stone formation and orthodontic treatment.