Pulp stones can help in detection of calculus in the kidneys and/or in the bile--fact or fiction?

BACKGROUND

Pulp stones or denticles are frequently found in the dental pulp; there is, however, scarce evidence about this phenomenon. Regardless of the obvious endodontic problem of inhibiting access to the canals and their further treatment, they have not been given great importance. The latest experiences of scientific and practical research, including examinations of dental calcifications and their association with calcifications/calculi in the organism, have not been included in the literature.

AIM: To investigate the possible association between dental calcifications and calculi in the kidney and/or bile.

METHODS

The study group included 200 patients diagnosed with pulptits chronica. All patients underwent dental and systematic examinations. Dental examination included x-rays, which detected the presence of calcifications in the dental pulps. Histopathological analysis of extirpated pulps was also made. Clinical examination comprised ultrasound that detected calculi.

RESULTS

The results of the histopathological analysis of the extirpated pulps from the group of patients without denticles, but with calculi in their kidneys, bile and/or other organs, showed a regular presence of "sand" in large quantities in dental pulps. The presence of "sand" was depicted as presence of dystrophic calcifications. There was a percentage difference between the two groups: calculi in the organism (kidney and bile) and denticles--70% and calculi in the organism without denticles--30%. The Student's t-test showed a statistically significant difference for P=0.0000. This study defines the association between the calculi in the organism and the presence of dental calcifications, as well as their possible bacterial association.