Prevalence of pulp calcifications in posterior teeth assessed by cone-beam computed tomography in patients treated at a radiology center

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pulp calcifications in permanent posterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) at a radiology center in Tacna during the 2020–2023 period. Materials and methods: A non-experimental, retrospective, cross-sectional study. Training was provided by a specialist in oral and maxillofacial radiology, with whom 15 CTC scans were reviewed using agreed-upon criteria. A total of 163 CTC scans (FOV: 16 × 10 mm) involving 2,060 teeth, selected at random, were analyzed. The analysis was performed using NNT Viewer software, which evaluated each tooth in the sagittal, axial, and coronal planes. The chi-square statistical test was used to evaluate the relationship between the condition of the tooth and the presence of pulp calcifications, as well as between the patients’ age and the occurrence of such calcifications. Results: Of the 163 CT scans evaluated, 26.2% of the 2,060 teeth exhibited pulp calcifications. The prevalence was higher in women and in the 17–36 age group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The category with the highest prevalence was “intact teeth.” A significant relationship was found between the condition of the tooth and the presence of pulp calcifications. Conclusions: Pulp calcifications are a relatively common condition in permanent posterior teeth. Their presence is more closely related to the structural condition of the tooth than to factors such as age or sex.