The Prevalence and Correlation of Carotid Artery Calcifications and Dental Pulp Stones in a Saudi Arabian Population.

BACKGROUND

This study sought to determine the prevalence of carotid artery calcifications (CACs) and pulp stones detected on panoramic radiographs (PRs) and ascertain their correlation.

METHODS

A total of 2013 digital PRs were retrospectively retrieved and thoroughly examined to determine the prevalence of CACs and pulp stones, their correlation with patient age and gender, and the relationship between the presence of pulps stones and radiographically detectable CACs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CACs on PRs was 2.0%; the prevalence of pulp stones was 4.6%. There was no statistical relationship between pulp stones and CACs ( = 0.714). Older patients exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of CACs than younger patients ( < 0.001); pulp stones were statistically more prevalent in younger patients than older patients ( = 0.001). There were no significant differences between male and females in terms of the prevalence of either CACs or pulp stones ( = 0.087 and = 0.278, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists should be trained to detect CACs on PRs belonging to patients older than 40 to exclude the presence of CACs. Moreover, pulp stones do not function as a diagnostic marker for CACs.