Histopathologic changes in dental pulp of teeth with chronic periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathologic changes in dental pulp of teeth with chronic advanced periodontitis.


METHODS
In 22 patients, 30 teeth were selected for inclusion. Patients had received no periodontal treatment. No teeth had caries, abrasion, attrition, erosion, trauma, or restoration. Radiographically, all teeth showed bone-support destruction to the apex. Thermal and cavity tests were used to evaluate pulp vitality. After tooth extractions, crowns were separated from roots at the cementoenamel junction. Both the crowns and the roots were prepared for histopathologic analyses. Radicular pulp was analyzed considering both coronal and apical halves.


RESULTS
In 100 percent of the cases, coronal pulp exhibited soft connective tissue. In the coronal half of radicular pulp, soft connective tissue was present in 60 percent of the cases, fibrosis in 30 percent, and fibrosis associated with dystrophic calcification in 10 percent. In the apical half of radicular pulp, 6.6 percent of the cases demonstrated fibrosis; 23 percent exhibited fibrosis associated with pulp atrophy and secondary dentin; and 63.3 percent showed fibrosis, pulp atrophy, secondary dentin, and diffuse calcification.


CONCLUSIONS
Radicular pulp of teeth with chronic periodontitis presents characteristics compatible with pulp changes resulting from pulp aging. In such cases, endodontic treatment is not indicated to enhance periodontal treatment results.
Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Telma R
TR
Aguiar
Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Gilson C
GC
Tristao
Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Denize
D
Mandarino
Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Laila
L
Zarranz
Assistant Professor, Brazilian Institute of Periodontology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Vinicius F
VF
Ferreira
Associate Professor of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Eliane P
EP
Barboza
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*