title: Prevalence and location of denticles on panoramic radiographs.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Zakład Ortodoncji Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej w Szczecinie al. Powstańiców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Syryńska
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durka-Zajac
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janiszewska-Olszowska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003784:Dental Pulp Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult