Association of pulp stones with coronary artery stenosis.
BACKGROUND
Dental pulp stones are discrete calcifications in the pulp chamber which are often seen in deciduous and permanent teeth. It has been hypothesised that atherosclerosis can be associated with their development.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a higher prevalence of dental pulp stones is correlated with coronary artery stenosis.


METHODS
Sixty-one patients aged 20-55 years referred to Afshar Heart Center for invasive coronary angiography were invited to undergo panoramic dental radiography. The panoramic radiographs were independently examined for the presence of pulp stones.


RESULTS
Pulp stones were present in 82% (31/38) of patients with at least one clinically significant coronary artery stenosis and in 48% (11/23) of patients with normal coronary angiography. They were present in 13% of the teeth in the former group and in 5% of the teeth in the latter. The findings show a statistically significant association between coronary artery stenosis and presence of pulp stones (odds ratio 4.83, 95% confidence interval 1.5-15.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Coronary artery stenosis and dental pulp calcification are significantly associated. Dental radiography has the potential to be used as a rapid screening method for the early detection of coronary artery stenosis.
School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. ezoddini@gmail.com
F
F
Ezoddini-Ardakani
S M
SM
Namayandeh
S M
SM
Sadr-Bafghi
F
F
Fatehi
Z
Z
Mohammadi
S
S
Shahrabi-Farahani
A S
AS
Hedayati
M J
MJ
Rahmani-Baghemalek
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003784:Dental Pulp Calcification / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult