Evaluation of pulp stones in unerupted teeth and their correlation with principal biochemical factors using cone beam...

Pulp stones result from the calcification of dental pulp tissue. There is limited research on pulp stones in unerupted teeth, but they are more suitable for investigating the influence of systemic factors on pulp stone formation because they are not exposed to the conditions of the oral cavity. The objectives of this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study were to use cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate pulp stones in unerupted teeth and to be the first investigation to assess the correlation between pulp stones and blood levels of principal biochemical factors. The CBCT records of 90 patients were evaluated, and 3 groups were defined based on the size of pulp stones: small pulp stone (including total absence as well as minute particles with maximum diameter < 0.05 mm); moderate-sized pulp stone (maximum diameter 0.05-1.59 mm); or large pulp stone (maximum diameter ≥ 1.60 mm). This was followed by assessment of the patients' blood levels of 5 principal biochemical factors: fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The data were analyzed by chi-square test, 1-way analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis test, and values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Individuals with a large pulp stone were significantly older than individuals with a small pulp stone (P = 0.024). No statistically significant difference was found in the distribution of the sexes in the 3 pulp stone groups, nor was there any association between pulp stones in unerupted teeth and FBG, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, or LDL level (P > 0.05). The prevalence of tooth types followed a consistent pattern across all 3 groups, with canines being the most commonly affected, followed by premolars. In the present study, confounding variables were minimized by using unerupted teeth. CBCT was found to be an accurate 3-dimensional imaging modality for evaluation of pulp stones. As people age, the likelihood of pulp stone formation increases. No statistically significant association was observed between the prevalence of pulp stones and patients' sex or biochemical factor levels.