Calcifications of the pulp are a frequent finding, which in fact, were found histologically to be present in approximately 66% of all teeth examined in persons between 10-20 years of age and in 90% of all teeth examined in persons in the 50-70 year age range.
Pulp stones are discrete calcifications and are amongst
changes that include more diffuse pulp calcifications
such as dystrophic calcification. Stones may exist freely
within the pulp tissue or be attached to or embedded in
dentine.
Two types of
calcified bodies in the dental pulp have been described: denticles possessing a
central cavity filled with epithelial remnants surrounded peripherally by odontoblasts, and pulp stones
being compact degenerative masses of calcified tissues.
A single tooth may have from 1 to 12 or even more
stones, with sizes varying from minute particles to large
masses which occlude the pulp space.
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Pulp stones have
been noted in patients with systemic or genetic diseases
such as dentine dysplasia, dentinogenesis imperfecta
and in certain syndromes such as Van der Woude
syndrome.