Prevalence of pulp stones in molars based on bitewing and periapical radiographs

To determine prevalence of pulp stones in molars of patients at the Institute of Dentistry Faculty of Medicine Vilnius University and to evaluate the association of pulp stones and gender, patient age, tooth condition.

Intraoral radiographs were reviewed using the Romexis program and pulp stones were assessed in molars.  Teeth were distributed into intact and non-intact. Information about patients' gender and age was collected. Data were processed using SPSS IBM (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22.0) program. Pearson's Chi-square test (χ²) was used. Results were considered to be statistically significant when the significance level of p<0.05.

A total of 531 patients' bitewing and periapical radiographs of molars were evaluated. 2361 molars in total were assessed. Prevalence of pulp stones was 58.8% when pulp stones were found in at least one molar. Pulp stones were detected in 832 molars (35.24%). Patients from 18 to 93 years old were assessed. The highest pulp stones' occurrence was found in the age group from 38 years and older (71.07%). Non-intact maxillary right first molars and maxillary right and left second molars demonstrated a statistically significantly more frequent occurrence of pulp stones than intact molars (p<0.05).

More than half of the participants had pulp stones in molars. Higher prevalence of pulp stones was associated with older age and decayed/filled teeth. There was no statistically significant difference between genders with regards to prevalence of pulp stones.